Imported frozen beef market share at its highest level on record
Imports of fresh and frozen beef totalled almost 19,000 tonnes in November.
This is both a decrease on the month of 2150 tonnes (10.2 per cent), and 3800 (16.8 per cent) tonnes back on the year.
Imports eased most notably from Ireland, both from the previous month as well as November last year.
Irish imports totalled 14,600 tonnes in November, back 2,300 tonnes (13.8 per cent) on October and almost 3000 tonnes (16.9 per cent) on the same month last year.
Fresh imports eased in November, accounting for 66.3 per cent of total imports, compared with 71.6 per cent in October.
ADHB analyist Charlotte Forkes-Rees said: "There was a slight increase in frozen imports from the EU on the month, most notably Germany, Poland and the Netherlands, however increased trade with countries such as Brazil and New Zealand have helped bolster the frozen category.
"This trend supports recent industry commentary, highlighting that the global frozen meat market would increase by almost 5 per cent to 2027, driven by changes in lifestyle and convenience trends."
In the year to date (Jan – Nov), 211,700 tonnes of fresh and frozen beef have been imported into the UK. This is 6,400 tonnes (2.9%) back on the same period in 2021.
"Whilst fresh beef remains the largest import category, there has been a shift towards increased frozen beef entering the UK over the last few years, increasing its market share from around 32 per cent in 2019-2021, up to more than 37 per cent in 2022 for the year to date.
On exports she said: "Export volumes of fresh and frozen beef for November held stable on October with 10,100 tonnes exported (+0.1 per cent).
"When compared with the same month last year exports were back 215 tonnes (2.1 per cent).
"Reduction in shipments to Hong Kong and Japan were some notable falls, contributing to a decrease of more than 700 tonnes on last year, despite an uplift in EU trade (+696 tonnes)."
Year to date (Jan – Nov), 113,400 tonnes of fresh and frozen beef has been exported, up more than 21,000 tonnes (23 per cent) on 2021.
Whilst unsurprising that recovery of trade with the EU has significantly helped export figures in the year to date, due to trade disruption in 2021, increased trade was also seen over the 11 months with a number of other nations, including Canada (+921 tonnes).
The split of fresh and frozen beef exported year to date is beginning to return to pre pandemic and pre-Brexit levels, with fresh products accounting for 69.8 per cent (79,100 tonnes) of exports.
In 2019, fresh beef accounted for 72.8 per cent of exports, however dipped almost 9% in 2020, and then again in 2021 to 58.8 per cent.
The EU accounts for the majority of our fresh beef exports (98.5per cent of total fresh beef in the year to date), therefore continues to represent an important trade partner for UK beef exports.
