March 13, 2014

UK sheep meat imports reported the greatest increases last year, up 14% on the previous year to 98,000 tonnes, according to Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) quoting figures from HM Revenue & Customs.

The levy body said the rise was mainly due to increases in exports from New Zealand, which accounted for 70% of sheep meat 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 11,500 tonnes, in imports from New Zealand between January and June 2013."

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

Richards added that 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 238,000 tonnes.

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