Outbreak sees Irish exports on the up
Outbreak sees Irish exports on the up
MEAT production in the UK remains below pre-foot-and-mouth levels, prompting imports despite retailers expressing a wish to get back to British.
Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, estimates that from Feb 26, to Mar 17, beef imports to the UK increased by 23,000t, pigmeat 14,000t and sheepmeat 9000t.
Now that UK production is back on-stream, although lamb supply is much reduced, Bord Bia expects imports to remain above normal, but drop away from the high levels of the past two weeks.
Beef and lamb are likely to remain short, with demand for an additional 4500t beef, and 2500t of extra sheepmeat from abroad.
Pigmeat imports will stay about the same as usual. Slaughterings are now up to 70% of normal and a shut down of export markets, means there are additional pork cuts to sell in the UK.
The main beneficiaries of increased imports have been Irish pig and beef exports. And a keen demand for beef from the Republic is likely to continue.
New Zealand lamb was air-freighted in to stock one retailers shelves once the foot-and-mouth crisis broke.
John Mabb, head of Meat New Zealand, says the amount brought forward by air was a few hundred tonnes. "Its not an awful lot in the scheme of things. About 4500-5000t of lamb meat is eaten every week. The quantity of chilled lamb brought forward was not very much.
"Most of our ships would have been on the water and heading here with product. We cant just arrange additional transport to ship over more product."
Other Continental markets are also screaming for lamb, he says. "We reckon France will be 10-15,000t light of sheep meat between March and May, through a lack of UK exports."
Ireland hasnt got the capacity to increase supplies to meet this shortfall and nor has New Zealand, says Mr Mabb.
The Irish share of the French market has gone up by about 7% since the foot-and-mouth crisis stopped UK exports. Kiwi supplies have risen by 5%, and now account for 15% of the French market. *