Sheepmeat export drop masks rise in high-value trade

Sheepmeat exports fell by 1% year-on-year in May, despite an increase in mutton and lamb production over the same period.

Subdued demand in France led to a 16% drop in shipments, said a report by the AHDB. However, sales to other markets improved, with exports to Germany doubling and sales to Ireland rising by more than 50%.

“The shift to exporting an increased volume of processed cuts was further evidenced in May,” said the report. “Shipments of carcasses declined by 6% on the year while exports of cuts with the bone in fell by 12%. In contrast, exports of boneless cuts almost doubled, and accounted for 12% of total exports, compared with 6% in the same period in 2010.”

Imports in May dropped by 7% on the year, to 9,500t, driven by an 8% drop in shipments from New Zealand. “There was also a reduction in imports from Ireland, Spain and Argentina. However, these countries collectively only accounted for less than 7% of all sheepmeat imports, compared with the 80% from New Zealand.”

Chilled meat imports fell by 21%, year-on-year, while frozen imports increased by 1%.