Key importers and buyers from China and the US have been shown at first hand the high standards that underpin the British pork supply chain during recent visits, coordinated by AHDB.
A delegation of 11 people from China, including representatives from six importing companies, visited the UK recently with a focus on the pig meat sector.
The delegation also included the vice president of The China Chamber of Commerce of Import & Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce & Animal By-Products (CFNA), which represents about 75% of all the country’s importers.
The Chinese delegation visited pig farms and the mission also included meetings with exporters and other industry stakeholders, as well as butchery demonstrations highlighting the versatility and quality of British meat.
Separately, four senior representatives from the US food service sector also headed to the UK to learn more about beef, sheep meat and pigmeat production during a week-long visit, which also covered farm and processor visits.
The missions formed part of AHDB’s ongoing commitment and investment to deliver a comprehensive programme of activity in both the UK and overseas to ‘champion the world-class quality and reputation of British farming and food production’.
Following these visits, Jonathan Eckley, AHDB international trade development director, and AHDB pork sector director Mark Haighton attended the World Pork Conference in Qingdao, co-hosted by the International Meat Secretariat (IMS) and the China Meat Association. The visit provided the opportunity for them to continue building relationships with the Chinese meat industry.
Despite a reduction in its overall reliance on pork imports, China remains a key market for the UK, accounting for nearly 40% of pigmeat exports, including large volumes of offal, which have little value in Europe.
Earlier this year, AHDB chair Emily Norton joined former Defra secretary Emma Reynolds and other industry leaders earlier this year for the UK’s first dedicated agri-food trade mission to Washington DC.
Export success
Mr Eckley said the feedback from delegates from both China and the US was ‘extremely encouraging and a positive endorsement of our red meat sector’s credentials’.
“British livestock farming and red meat produce has a superb international reputation in terms of both quality and standards of production,” he said.
“This is reflected in the ongoing demand for beef, sheep meat and pig meat, which in the first half of this year saw total UK exports of red meat worth £1.1 billion, up 15% on the year, with the volume of product shipped up 8% at almost 293,000 tonnes.
“British livestock farming has a fantastic story to tell and there is no substitute for bringing buyers here to taste our produce and learn more about our production standards throughout the supply chain to help ensure our exports continue to thrive in markets around the world, including China and the US.
“Maintaining and nurturing positive links with importers and buyers is therefore imperative in supporting our levy payers to help maximise the opportunities in specific markets.”
AHDB’s international trade development work will continue at SIAL Paris – the world’s largest trade show this year – from October 17 to 21 where it will be joined by red meat export businesses on its purpose-built pavilion at the show.