Uruguay overtakes Brazil as largest beef supplier to UK

Uruguay overtook Brazil as the second largest beef supplier to the UK as they shifted their export focus from North America to the European market.

The EU currently imposes restrictions on Brazilian beef imports whereas Argentina, another major beef supplier has been beset by farmer strikes which disrupted supplies.

Imports from Uruguay rose 140 percent, bringing total UK imports to 79,200 tonnes.

Meanwhile, processed imports dropped 55 percent to 12,900 tonnes partially due the Brazilian beef ban. Last year, Brazilian beef import was 6,300 tonnes.

Corned beef imports have fallen as well by nearly 20 percent this year to 12,550 tonnes.