Beef prices drive UK red meat export value to near £1bn

While tight cattle supplies were reflected in the total volume of beef exports – easing by nearly 9% on the year – higher prices pushed the value of beef exports, including offal, to the EU up by 19% to £323m.

Jonathan Eckley, AHDB international trade development director, said a wide portfolio of markets in both EU and non-EU destinations was key in helping drive export growth.

“Despite tight supply, it was encouraging to see a 2% increase in fresh and frozen beef shipments to France which is a key market for UK exporters and the only market where AHDB has a full-time team working closely with the beef and lamb supply chain to promote our world class product.

“The value of fresh and frozen shipments to non-EU markets like Canada, Ghana and Japan also highlights diversity of markets which is pivotal in terms of carcase balance and maximising opportunities for exports in as many markets as possible.”

The latest figures also highlighted a 5% increase in the volume of pig meat exports, driven by more product being shipped to China – the UK’s biggest export market for pig meat.

The importance of carcase balance was again illustrated in the pig meat sector with offal shipments up nearly 7% on the year to 75,000 tonnes. The popularity of quality British sausages also shone with their export value seeing a 16.5% increase on the year, worth just over £9m.

Total sheep meat exports, including offal, for the period increased 18% in volume at 47,462 tonnes and 15% in value (£347m), with shipments to non-EU markets up 29% in volume (3142 tonnes) and 43% in value (£12.5m).

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}