UK beef import share holding against the odds

Ireland maintained its UK beef import market share of 69% in May, shipping 14,600 tonnes, which was marginally up on a year earlier, according to the UK’s Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)

Ireland held its market share despite processors here having to buy cattle cattle at increased deadweight prices, compared to 12 months previously.

The UK imported a total of 21,200 tonnes of fresh and frozen beef in the month of May, broadly similar to the import levels of 12 months previously. Neither the narrowed gap between UK and Irish prime cattle prices, nor Ireland’s lower than previously expected level of beef production, have affected exports to the UK, which are running at 5% higher for the year to date than in 2016, according to the AHDB.

The strong Irish beef export performance has contributed to a 25% increase in the food and live animals export category measured by the Central Statistics Office. This is part of an overall 10% increase in the value of Irish goods exports in May this year, compared to May, 2016.