July 7, 2008

British meat exports will be good for the next few years due to the falling value of the pound, according to Jean-Pierre Garnier, export manager of the English Beef and Lamb Executive.

UK beef exports in the first four months of 2008 grew 16.3 percent to 24,700 tonnes while pork exports climbed 22 percent to 41,100 tonnes, Garnier said.

The economic slowdown in the EU could benefit pork due to its lower cost, Garnier said. Pork represents for more than 50 percent of meat sales in the EU despite a significant growth in poultry sales in recent years.

Garnier expects UK pork exports to rise between 20-30 percent in volume this year while beef exports are projected to climb 20 percent higher.

However, there is an acute shortage of premium beef cuts after years of production cutbacks due to low profit margins, according to Garnier. High grain prices have also led to farmers switching from livestock production to grain production.

There is not enough beef, Garnier said, adding that it is a global issue as even major exporters such as Argentina are exporting very little beef.