Beef and sheep exports grow

Beef and sheepmeat exports have increased over the past year, but the rate of growth has slowed due to less favourable exchange rates, according to latest figures.

HM Revenue & Customs data published by EBLEX showed that UK beef and sheepmeat exports totalled 177,000 tonnes in the year-ended March 2010, up 7,000t on the previous year and 42,000t more than 2007/08.

“While the total national export tonnage has risen by more than 30% over the two years, the figures confirm the vast majority of growth was between 2007/08 and 2008/09, with overall volumes increasing by only around 4% in the most recent fiscal year,” EBLEX senior economic analyst, Mark Topliff said.

Between the end of March 2009 and March 2010, the pound strengthened against the Euro, from around £1 = €1.08 to nearer £1= €1.12. Since then, it has made further gains and stood at around £1 = €1.21 at the time of writing.

EBLEX said The Netherlands and Ireland continued to be the most important beef markets, taking more than 60% of annual exports, while France accounted for two-thirds of UK sheepmeat exports.

There were “encouraging increases” in beef volumes sold to French and Italian markets, which accounted for 20% of UK exports. Sheepmeat exports to Belgium and Germany also increased substantially in the last year, Mr Topliff said.