Highest on file: UK purple meat exports value £1.7bn in 2022

The worth of the UK’s purple meat exports has reached its highest ever ranges since information started, the Agriculture and Horticulture Improvement Board (AHDB) has mentioned.

UK purple meat exports have been value £1.7 billion final 12 months which, in line with the AHDB, was partially pushed by the rising costs of meat.

In keeping with the newest information from HM Income and Customs (HMRC), the whole worth of purple meat shipments elevated 22% year-on-year, with over 609,000t exported all over the world.

Beef exports gave the largest increase to the export figures, with its worth of cargo up almost 46% to £640 million.

Pig meat exports reached £623 million, up 10% on the 12 months earlier than, adopted by sheep meat exports which have been valued at £503 million – an increase of 13% year-on-year.

Worldwide market improvement director at AHDB, Dr Phil Hadley, mentioned the organisation is “thrilled” by the newest figures, which present 2022 as an “extremely robust 12 months for all three of our purple meat sectors”.

“Final 12 months, we noticed robust progress in a few of our key targets markets, equivalent to Canada, Japan and Europe, which stays the UK’s most beneficial market.

“We additionally noticed new alternatives created for pork exports to Chile and lamb to the US, which each have the potential to assist bolster these figures over the approaching 12 months,” he mentioned.

Worldwide purple meat exports

The AHDB mentioned Japan proved an necessary marketplace for UK exports for beef, with 3,175t shipped final 12 months value £16.3 million – a 68% rise in worth.

Canada additionally elevated its imports of UK beef with shipments value £13.1 million – a 77% year-on-year.

The quantity of pig meat exported final 12 months elevated six per cent to 372,597t. China has remained the most important importer of UK pork, taking 126,723t final 12 months – valued at nearly £203 million.

The Philippines stays the world’s third-biggest importer of UK pig meat. Its imports have been up 33% to 33,861t – value £52 million. Cargo to the US additionally elevated, with 2022’s exports value nearly £28 million.

Sheep meat exports have been up 7.8% in complete, rising to 78,844t. The vast majority of this was exported inside the EU, which made up 94% of the whole shipments.

“These figures present the worth of exports, and the advantages new markets carry to the UK’s purple meat sectors,” Hadley mentioned.

“We are going to proceed to work with authorities and the broader business to establish and open new markets for our exporters to make sure our meat is loved in additional nations all over the world.”