UK meat imports up, according to Meat Promotion Wales

12-Mar-2014 - Last updated on 12-Mar-2014 at 10:11 GMT

UK imported increased quantities of meat during 2013

Meat imports into the UK market during 2013 rose, according to figures from Welsh meat bosses, although those increases are unlikely to be repeated during 2014.

Hybu Cig Cymru - Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) said that, according to figures from HM Revenue & Customs, sheepmeat imports reported the greatest increases last year, up 14% on the previous year to 98,000 tonnes (t).

The levy body said the rise was mainly attributed to increases in exports from New Zealand, which accounted for 70% of sheepmeat imports in 2013.

John Richards, HCC’s market and industry information officer, said: "These figures are obviously a cause for concern. There was a 30% increase, or 11,500t, in imports from New Zealand between January and June 2013."

The latter half of the year saw a 10% drop in NZ exports, partly due to a decline in the lamb crop, but also down to growing demand in other markets, such as China.

Richards added: "The decline in New Zealand’s lamb crop in 2013 is expected to result in a 7% drop in their export slaughter in 2014. The continued rise of Chinese demand will possibly mean that they will import even more lamb from New Zealand, which will divert volumes away from the UK and Europe. Australia is also predicting lower exports in 2014."

Beef and pork imports into the UK remained relatively flat, with growth of just 1%. Ireland remains the main beef exporter to the UK, accounting for two-thirds of arrivals, at around 238,000t.

"What we have seen over the last year is increased volumes of beef being shipped in from outside the EU with countries such as Botswana, Namibia and Brazil increasing their exports. Forecasts suggest that this pattern may continue," added Richards.

A total of 351,000t of pork was imported during 2013. The main exporters continued to be Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands, accounting for 60%.