Cambodia is set to become Australia's newest live cattle market, after health protocols were finalised between the two countries.
The industry expects to ship an initial 10,000 head of feeder and slaughter cattle to the south-east Asian country.
Australian Livestock Exporters Council chief executive, Alison Penfold, says it's a small market, but presents a significant opportunity for northern beef producers.
"We've seen across Asia a 115 per cent increase in live cattle exports over 2013 and 2014," she said..
"So adding Cambodia and hopefully in a short period of time Thailand, we will have a large and important area of huge potential."
Agriculture Minister, Barnaby Joyce, said Cambodia was the fourth livestock export market which the government has negotiated access into since February, after Bahrain, Egypt and Iran.
"This government is serious about delivering greater market access for our agricultural producers, including cattle producers many of whom are doing it tough at the moment because of drought," Minister Joyce said in a press release.
"Opening new markets, and improving access to existing ones, are tangible ways government can help our farmers get a fair price for the work they do.
"Better market access should help increase farmers profits - and that keeps our regional communities alive and keeps Australia's economy healthy."
Figures released last week showed live cattle exports from Australia have surged to their highest ever level, less than two years after the industry was at an all-time low.
Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed more than 350,000 live cattle were exported in the June quarter, beating a record set back in 2002.
It also reveals a major turnaround since late 2012 when cattle exports were less than a quarter of the latest ABS data.
That downturn came amid an array of animal welfare concerns and in the aftermath of a ban on live cattle exports, which the industry described as "crippling".
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