DEMAND from smaller markets helped drive a six per cent growth in the volume of UK beef exports in 2014, according to Eblex.
Altogether 112,055 tonnes of beef was exported in 2014, compared to 105,311 the previous year.
Shipments to smaller European markets, included a four fold increase to Greece and 23 per cent increase to Denmark. Shipments to Sweden saw a 66 per cent rise, while Portugal took 43 per cent more than in 2013.
Volume cuts of sheep meat accounted for 43 per cent of total sheep meat exports in 2014 at 43,431 tonnes.
Jean-Pierre Garnier, EBLEX export manager, said: “We are competing in a volatile global market where spread of risk plays an increasingly significant role. While the volume of product shipped to smaller European markets isn’t as large as to some of our more established markets, we are clearly making positive strides in the right direction.
“While overall sheep meat exports are reported to be marginally down on the year, we suspect these may ultimately be revised upwards to show positive growth in line with our own intelligence and has happened a number of times through the year. The figures relating to shipments of sheep meat cuts, however, are encouraging and underpin EBLEX’s export strategy."
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