UK Meat Exports Increase Sharply On Weak Sterling
A weak pound and ongoing investment have driven a substantial increase in exports of British meat over the past year, according to UK levy bodies..
EBLEX says that demand for British beef is rising fast in the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium and Italy. The latest export figures show that a total of 81,000 tonnes of beef was exported from the UK in 2008, a 36% rise on 2007 figures.
Lamb exports are up too, with a total of 86,000 tonnes of sheep meat exported in 2008, up by a quarter from 69,000t the previous year. There was increased trade in UK sheep meat with all major EU marketplaces last year, particularly with France, where exports rose by 19% to 60,000 tonnes.
An increase in the volume of prime lamb cuts exported to the French market in 2008 meant that the value of sheep meat exports rose by a massive 43% to £260m.
UK lamb now accounts for 46% of total imports into France - a positive development in light of the fact that household purchases of lamb in France fell by 8% last year.
The beef and lamb figures come following a BPEX Ltd announcement that the value of pork exports has hit an impressive £160m. Exports of fresh and frozen pork have soared by 20% over the last year, while bacon exports have grown from 12,000 tonnes to more than 33,000 tonnes and exports of offals are up 18%.
EBLEX says that demand for British beef is rising fast in the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium and Italy. The latest export figures show that a total of 81,000 tonnes of beef was exported from the UK in 2008, a 36% rise on 2007 figures.
Lamb exports are up too, with a total of 86,000 tonnes of sheep meat exported in 2008, up by a quarter from 69,000t the previous year. There was increased trade in UK sheep meat with all major EU marketplaces last year, particularly with France, where exports rose by 19% to 60,000 tonnes.
An increase in the volume of prime lamb cuts exported to the French market in 2008 meant that the value of sheep meat exports rose by a massive 43% to £260m.
UK lamb now accounts for 46% of total imports into France - a positive development in light of the fact that household purchases of lamb in France fell by 8% last year.
The beef and lamb figures come following a BPEX Ltd announcement that the value of pork exports has hit an impressive £160m. Exports of fresh and frozen pork have soared by 20% over the last year, while bacon exports have grown from 12,000 tonnes to more than 33,000 tonnes and exports of offals are up 18%.
