Exports of UK sheepmeat in February up 37% on final yr

UK exports of contemporary and frozen sheepmeat noticed a major rise in February of this yr compared to the identical month in 2021.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Growth Board (AHDB) mentioned that in February of this yr, UK sheepmeat exports totalled 6,300t, up 37% (1,700t) year-on-year. 

This quantity, the AHDB famous, is just like pre-pandemic and pre-Brexit ranges and the EU remained the primary vacation spot.

Moreover, imports of contemporary and frozen sheepmeat noticed a considerable enhance year-on-year by 66% through the month of February to 4,700t.

Commenting, Rebecca Wright of the AHDB mentioned: “This places import volumes at their highest degree for a February since 2018.

“Though there was a small rise in shipments from New Zealand and Australia (up 400t and 300t on the yr respectively) the vast majority of the rise was recorded in shipments from Eire, up 1,100t.”

“Historically, imports of legs have made up round 40% of UK imports through the early a part of the yr. Nonetheless, over the previous two years this quantity has dropped sharply, and this February, lower than 1 / 4 of the expansion in imports could be attributed to leg cuts,” she continued.

“It was anticipated that volumes can be greater than final yr, reflecting the truth that the UK wasn’t in lockdown and the foodservice sector was open for enterprise.”

Lastly, within the yr to February, whole import volumes stood at 9,100t, up 2,300t in comparison with year-earlier ranges, the AHDB added.