November 2, 2006

 

UK beef exports making swift recovery

 

 

British beef exports are making a swift recovery in an EU market in the midst of a beef shortage, exporting 700 tonnes a week.

 

British beef exports are set to hit 30,000 tonnes in the first seven months since restrictions were lifted, according to the Meat and Livestock Commission.

 

However, British beef still has a long way before catching up with pre-ban figures. If beef exports stay where they are now, they would only be about one¡§Ctenth of figures in 1996. 

 

Before the 1996 ban due to mad cow disease, British beef exports reached 300,000 tonnes a year, worth GBP 600 million. 

 

MLC international manager Peter Hardwick, however is optimistic about explosive growth, noting that orders are coming in hard and fast.

 

Exports of British beef have reached 11 countries so far, with France accounting for half of the beef imports. 

 

MLC France director Remi Fourrier, speaking at the SIAL international food show last week, said most British beef in France were being bought by wholesalers and sold on to sectors like foodservice and retail.

 

Fourrier expects demand to increase as the meat shortage in Europe deepens.

 

Currently, stronger domestic prices are partly to blame for a shortage of exportable beef.

 

Britain's long-standing reputation for high quality beef would lead to a swift growth in exports, Fourrier said.