Pork leads rise in UK meat exports

The value of fresh and frozen meat exports from the UK increased by 10% in the first half of 2010, totalling almost £370m. At the same time, aided by the weak pound against the Euro, imports fell by 5% compared with the same period last year, to £920m, says the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s latest report.

The exchange rate contributed to a significant rise in pork exports in volume terms. Sales increased by 29%, with most shipments going to Germany and The Netherlands. As a result, the value of exports increased by more than a third to £69m.

Beef exports rose by 15%, despite a marginal drop in price, totalling £150m. However, sheepmeat sales dropped by 7%, year-on-year, due to lower domestic supplies. The value of exports therefore fell by 2%, to £150m. This decrease was somewhat offset by a 5% rise in price, due to exports of higher value processed cuts.

Over the same period, sheepmeat imports dropped by 11%, but a switch to chilled product led to a 1% rise in value to £250m. Pork imports dropped by 8%, to £310m, with beef imports rising by 2% to just over £360m, due to higher prices.