UK exports 94% of its lamb to the EU
The Welsh red meat body Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) says that Wales was a major component to this growth, the country being home to around a third of the British sheep industry. HCC also added that premium exports are driven by the iconic PGI Welsh Lamb brand.
Lamb export from the UK reached a value of over £384 million, rising from £302 million in 2015 and £327 million in 2016.
UK reported major increases in the volume of lamb exported to a number of countries including Germany (up 25%), Belgium (up 16%), Italy (up 13%) and Denmark (up 13%).
Furthermore, although shipments towards non-EU markets, such as Hong Kong, Switzerland and Canada, increased, the European Union remains the destination for nearly 94% of the lamb exported from Britain.
HCC Market Development Manager Rhys Llywelyn warned that continued free trade with Europe would be needed to sustain this export success. At the beginning of February HCC completed a three-year programme, part-funded by the EU, to promote PGI Welsh Lamb in a number of key overseas markets.
“Over the past three years we’ve worked hand-in-hand with processors to promote Welsh Lamb and earn new business, so it’s excellent to see export growth in markets we’ve targeted such as Germany, Denmark and Italy,” said Rhys.
“We’re looking to consolidate and build on this growth,” he added, “however our current exports are helped by a competitive currency rate and the ability to trade without tariffs across a continent of 500 million consumers.”
“Exports to newer markets further afield are up, but are very small compared with countries such as France and Germany where the PGI Welsh Lamb brand is well established, and we still don’t have access to trade with a number of key countries such as the USA and China,” said Rhys.
Rhys explained the importance of exports for the Welsh Lamb industry. “We export over a third of our lamb each year, and much more than that at times of peak production,” he said. “UK consumption is static at best, and overseas consumers also prefer different cuts to domestic shoppers which helps to earn value for the whole carcase.”
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