Latest figures from HMRC show that in the first six months of this year, UK red meat exports, including offal, were worth £966 million.
Jonathan Eckley, AHDB’s international trade development director, said a wide portfolio of markets in both EU and non-EU destinations was key in helping drive export growth.
The figures highlighted a 5% increase in the volume of pig meat exports, driven by more product being shipped to China – the UK’s biggest export market for pig meat.
Mr Eckley said the importance of carcase balance was again illustrated in the pig meat sector with offal shipments up nearly 7% on the year to 75,000 tonnes.
“The popularity of Quality British sausages also shone with their export value seeing a 16.5% increase on the year, worth just over £9m,” Mr Eckley said.
“The volume of pig meat shipments to China again underlined the value of our in-market representative Holly Chen working tirelessly on the ground to support our levy payers’ ambitions in that particular market.”
While tight cattle supplies were reflected in the total volume of beef exports – easing by nearly 9% on the year – higher prices pushed the value of beef exports, including offal, to the EU up by 19% to £323m.
Total sheep meat exports, including offal, for the period increased 18% in volume at 47,462 tonnes and 15% in value (£347m), with shipments to non-EU markets up 29% in volume (3,142 tonnes) and 43% in value (£12.5m).
