Lamb exports to Europe soar

By FWi staff

BRITISH lamb exports to Europe have soared in the seven months to the end of October this year, according to figures published by the Meat and Livestock Commission today (Monday).

Customers in France, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Greece and Spain all bought more British lamb than in the same period in 1998 – only in Germany did sales slip, by 1%, said the MLC.

Between May and October imports to France rose 16% to 30,677 tonnes while shipments to Italy increased 171% to 975 tonnes.

Spain purchased 640 tonnes, a 36% increase on 1998 and Belgian imports rose 13% to 4129 tonnes in the same period.

It is clear customers demand top-quality British lamb in increasing amounts, said Gerald Wakefield, MLC lamb export manager.

“The opportunities for further growth are there and it is up to the industry to make the most of them,” he added.

This will be welcome news to many lamb producers who have seen prices increase steadily in recent weeks.

The new-season SQQ price is currently 73.3p/kg, up over 13p on values at the same time last year.

Christmas demand along with new export interest is behind this increase in values, according to industry sources.