New figures from red meat industry body EBLEX show the UK has become a net exporter of lamb. EBLEX figures show that in 2011 sheep meat exports from the UK saw an 11 per cent increase on the year, totalling 98,500 tonnes product weight. During the same period, UK sheep meat imports fell 13 per cent to 88,000 tonnes product weight.

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Sheep meat imports have exceeded exports for the vast majority of the last 50 years. The rise in exports last year was mainly driven by very strong demand on the continent with a number of EU member states increasingly looking to the UK. Exports to France accounted for 60 per cent with an increase of 3.1 per cent volume. Shipments to Germany and Ireland both increased by around two thirds year-on-year.

Significantly, exports to non-EU markets for the period were up 41 per cent year-on-year at 5,800 tonnes to destinations such as Switzerland, Norway, various African states including South Africa and Congo, Hong Kong and other Far East markets. Further growth in non-EU markets is also expected to drive an overall increase in sheep meat exports in 2012.

Peter Hardwick, head of trade development at EBLEX, commented on the revelation, “The UK is a major sheep meat producer, the largest in the EU and third in terms of global trade behind only Australia and New Zealand. While becoming a net exporter of lamb is a significant milestone for the industry in the UK, exports remain largely limited to trade within the EU with non-EU exports for the period representing 5% to 6% of the total.

“The key challenge in terms of lamb exports remains access to target markets such as China, North Africa, South Africa, Russia, the USA and several Middle East markets. Population growth and growing affluence is presenting new opportunities for exports in developing markets in particular but these simply cannot be exploited without market access.”

Earlier in the year, Defra unveiled plans to help UK producers find new markets for their products, which Defra secretary Caroline Spelman said would benefit from the ‘Made in Britain brand’, the reputation for high quality and good animal welfare practices. British producers are expected to boost exports to China, India and South America with the help of Defra’s initiative.

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