EASTERN states sheep producers have just snared one of the biggest shares of the live trade for years.

The latest statistics show the ports of Portland and Adelaide have sent 34 per cent of total live sheep exports to the end of October, with Western Australia 66 per cent.

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It's a massive jump from a similar time frame last year, when the two eastern states ports had only 19 per cent of the lucrative live trade.

It's the smallest share WA has had since 2006, dropping from a peak of 82 per cent in 2006.

This is despite Victoria not having any ships loading in August or October, and just 51,500 sheep sent in September.

The Australian Livestock Exporters Council's Lachlan McKinnon said buyer had no preference as to whether ships were filled from the west or eastern states.

"It's about getting the right sheep, in the right place, at the right time," he said.

Mr McKinnon said the live sheep trade had a bright future in supplying an overseas food demand.

"I have a lot of faith in the live sheep trade and its ability to supply protein and our ability to supply the trade," he said.

But Mr McKinnon said exporters would now have to work within new supply chain assurances, due to be introduced from January 1. These would add to the costs of exporting sheep, he said.

"Whoever has to deal with it will deal with it, but the customers won't want to pick up the cost of it (the assurances)," he said.

To date this year, Australia's major customer for live sheep has been Kuwait, which has taken about 800,000.

Qatar (390,000) is the next biggest importer, Bahrain (315,000), Turkey (300,000) and Jordan (165,000).

Turkey has been the big mover when it comes to imports, up 118 per cent on the previous year.

In contrast, the Saudi Arabian market has fallen dramatically compared with last year, with a 91 per cent decline in imports of Australian sheep from January-October.

Saudi Arabia is believed to be sourcing live sheep from the Horn of Africa, Iraq, Iran and Syria.