Beef and sheepmeat imports decline as red meat exports defy Brexit uncertainty

Stuart Ashworth, QMS director of economic services, said among all the Brexit ‘confusion’, the first two-thirds of 2019 had been a positive period for the UK’s red meat exporters.

Year-on-year growth had, however, only been achieved by trading at a lower price as the value of beef exports had only grown 3 per cent, while sheepmeat exports grew 8 per cent by value.

Mr Ashworth said: “The European market still dominates, with 82 per cent of beef and 96 per cent of sheepmeat going to Europe.”

UK customs data also shows a decline in beef and sheepmeat imports during 2019.

The volume of beef imported between January and August 2019 was 11 per cent less than the same period in 2018, while sheepmeat imports fell 18 per cent.

Mr Ashworth added: “Similar to export activity, Europe was the source of 96 per cent of beef imports with Ireland alone being the source of just more than 80 per cent of all beef deliveries – a slightly higher proportion than in 2018.

“Nevertheless, so far this year Ireland has supplied 6 per cent less beef to the UK than it did last year, the majority of the reduction being in frozen beef.

“The decline in deliveries has been higher from other countries, for example Poland which sent 13 per cent less beef.”