August 25, 2017

UK meat producers forge export deals with China, Philippines

The UK has clinched new pork and beef export deals with China and the Philippines, two of Asia's largest meat consumers.

China has given the go-signal to seven new businesses in England and Northern Ireland to export pork. These included three producers who, in a first for the UK, will export pig trotters, according to the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).

Already, nine producers export to China and generated £43 million (US$55.03 million) last year, as demand for UK pork has doubled in terms of value over the last three years. China is predicted to remain the world's largest net importer of meat.

"This is very welcome news for the Northern Ireland pig sector and for our wider agri-food industry and I look forward to the commencement of exports to China. The deal represents a major boost worth in excess of £10 million for the local pork industry", said Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer, Robert Huey, who thanked Defra for securing access.

Meanwhile, UK Food Minister George Eustice has announced a new export deal for British beef with the Philippines, worth an estimated £34 million ($43.52 million), the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) reported.

UK beef will now join poultry, lamb, pork and dairy on the list of British food already being shipped to the Philippines.

"Securing market access for our world-class beef to the Philippines is a huge vote of confidence for a sector that already exports more than £350 million ($448 million) around the world, including Hong Kong and Canada", Eustice said.

Daniel Pruce, British Ambassador-designate to the Philippines, for his part, said, "I am delighted to see that British beef is coming back to the Philippines and look forward to serving this fantastic British product at the Residence and at other British Embassy events."

Chief Executive Alan Clarke of Quality Meat Scotland, one of the British levy bodies, said the Philippines was a priority market, which is Southeast Asia's largest food and drink market and whose national meat consumption is predicted to increase by 10% within the next five years.