Busy six months for beef exports to the UK
The UK’s fresh and frozen beef imports in the first six months of 2018 were up 5% (or 6,200 tonnes), to 136,300 tonnes.
This was primarily driven by increased imports from Ireland, according to the UK’s Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board.
The half-year imports from Ireland totalled 96,775 tonnes, compared to 86,980t in 2015 and 91.557t in 2017.
HMRC statistics show Ireland’s nearest competitors lag well behind.
They are the Netherlands, with 9,141t; Poland with 8.836t, and non-EU countries with 7,780t.
The imports from Ireland are up 5.7% compared to the first six months of 2016.
The AHDB noted that Irish processors have been actively expanding their position within the UK in recent times which “has no doubt contributed to increased import activity from Ireland”.
