March 28, 2016

Poland eyed as major export market for UK lamb

With growing and more affluent population, coupled with its limited domestic production, Poland could become a major export market for UK's Quality Standard Mark (QSM) lamb, according to AHDB Beef & Lamb.

Jean-Pierre Garnier, export manager for the beef and lamb division of the UK's Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board, said the UK was well placed to meet an anticipated increase in demand for lamb in Poland.  According to the latest figures, sales of lamb in the UK, both in terms of volume and value, were up 8% and 7%, respectively, in the 12 weeks through Dec. 6 compared with the same period in 2014.

Fresh and frozen lamb from the UK also debuted in Hong Kong retail outlets in September last year, competing with New Zealand and Australia meats.

Garnier said that last year they identified Poland, among other non-traditional EU markets, as having a huge potential for the export of QSM lamb.

"We believe that Poland has the potential, in time, to become a major market for us. It has a large population with fast-growing incomes, a burgeoning food service sector and very limited domestic lamb production", he said.