Meat buyers from across the world have taken part in a fact-finding mission in the UK this week, reflecting the growing global appetite for British red meat.
Twenty-eight buyers from the Americas, Africa, Asia and the Middle East have taken part in AHDB’s biggest ever inward mission for the red meat sector.
The four-day visit included visits to farms and processors in the West Country to learn more about production of world class British beef, lamb and pork. It culminated with a ‘meet the buyer’ event and gala dinner at Butcher’s Hall in London attended by exporters and UK Government representatives.
A panel session preceded the ‘meet the buyer’ event and gala dinner, where guests heard from AHDB market analysts and its international trade development team about quality UK red meat produce, market access and the potential for future trade arrangements.
Last year, UK red meat exports were worth £1.77 billion, driven by the performance of beef shipments to Europe and further afield. The value of beef, lamb and pig meat exports in 2024 as a whole increased 3.3 per cent on year earlier levels.
World class sector
Department for Business and Trade spokesman, Tim Barraclough, said: “AHDB continues to deliver key export support for the sector, ensuring appropriate access for key categories in growth markets. It is fantastic to see an international delegation of buyers coming to the UK to engage directly with our world class sector.”
Jonathan Eckley, AHDB international trade development director, said: “Connecting with people is essential to helping ensure UK red meat exports thrive and we were delighted to welcome key industry figures from a wide portfolio of markets to take part in our inward mission.
“It provided the ideal platform for buyers from across the world to gain further insight at source into how we produce our world-class red meat. The mission provided the full pasture to plate experience with delegates joining us at the gala dinner to taste this quality produce for themselves.”
“While it is important to acknowledge some challenges on the global meat market, 2024 was a strong year for our red meat exports overall which was encouraging. The figures underlined the global appetite for our red meat produce and it’s important for us to sustain that momentum with events like this inward mission.”
The mission forms part of AHDB’s wider international trade development activity, including work on market access, participation in international trade shows, outward missions and the work of our representatives in-market. In October we will be joined by exporters from our red meat and dairy sectors at Anuga in Cologne, this year’s biggest global trade show.
“This activity on the ground, coupled with the consumer and international market analysis from our Market Intelligence team, helps equip our exporters with insight and practical support to succeed,” Mr Eckley.
“Recent headlines have highlighted the importance of international trade and we should be rightly proud of the quality red meat we offer to markets around the world.”