Purchases of Irish beef to drive increase in British meat imports

Britain’s agriculture department has estimated that its beef imports in 2013 may rise to 430,000 tons, from 410,000 tons last year.

The UK’s Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has cited an increase in purchases from Ireland as one of the factors driving UK imports.

The AHDB has predicted that its beef production may reach 887,000 metric tons in 2013, up by around 0.6% from 882,000 tons in 2012.