Both the value and quantity of meat imported into the UK in 2004 were up on a year earlier.
The value of beef and veal imports into the UK grew 10% last year, according to the MLC.
Imports were worth £607m in 2004, compared with £553m in 2003. Volumes grew just 3% to 274,000 tonnes, reflecting buoyant EU deadweight prices for cattle. A higher proportion of beef imports were fresh/chilled, rather than frozen, which may also have pushed values upwards, the MLC said.
Chilled imports grew 8% in volume terms. Chilled imports from Ireland rose 6% in volume and those from Brazil and Argentina 10%.
Imports of sheep, pig and poultry meat also all grew in
value last year. Sheep meat imports were worth £283m, up 12% on 2003, while volumes grew 4% to 116,000 tonnes. Imports from both New Zealand and Australia rose slightly, while 65% more came from Ireland, bringing its sheep meat exports to the UK to 7,400 tonnes.
Pork imports were £494m, up 6.5% on 2003, though volumes stood still at 378,000 tonnes. Fresh/chilled bone-in shoulders accounted for the largest share of imports at 36%, though this was slightly down on 2003 because of an increase in imports of boneless cuts.
Bacon imports fell fractionally to just under 300,000 tonnes, with less product brought in from Denmark but more imported from the Netherlands.
Poultry meat imports grew 9% to £715m in 2004 and 12% in volume terms to 385,000 tonnes.
Volume growth may have outstripped value because more poultry meat was brought in from non-EU countries last year.
Imports from the EU15 still represented 81% of all imported poultry meat, with the Netherlands the chief supplier. The proportion from new member states doubled in 2004 to 22,770 tonnes, with Poland accounting for nearly two-thirds.
Richard Clarke
The value of beef and veal imports into the UK grew 10% last year, according to the MLC.
Imports were worth £607m in 2004, compared with £553m in 2003. Volumes grew just 3% to 274,000 tonnes, reflecting buoyant EU deadweight prices for cattle. A higher proportion of beef imports were fresh/chilled, rather than frozen, which may also have pushed values upwards, the MLC said.
Chilled imports grew 8% in volume terms. Chilled imports from Ireland rose 6% in volume and those from Brazil and Argentina 10%.
Imports of sheep, pig and poultry meat also all grew in
value last year. Sheep meat imports were worth £283m, up 12% on 2003, while volumes grew 4% to 116,000 tonnes. Imports from both New Zealand and Australia rose slightly, while 65% more came from Ireland, bringing its sheep meat exports to the UK to 7,400 tonnes.
Pork imports were £494m, up 6.5% on 2003, though volumes stood still at 378,000 tonnes. Fresh/chilled bone-in shoulders accounted for the largest share of imports at 36%, though this was slightly down on 2003 because of an increase in imports of boneless cuts.
Bacon imports fell fractionally to just under 300,000 tonnes, with less product brought in from Denmark but more imported from the Netherlands.
Poultry meat imports grew 9% to £715m in 2004 and 12% in volume terms to 385,000 tonnes.
Volume growth may have outstripped value because more poultry meat was brought in from non-EU countries last year.
Imports from the EU15 still represented 81% of all imported poultry meat, with the Netherlands the chief supplier. The proportion from new member states doubled in 2004 to 22,770 tonnes, with Poland accounting for nearly two-thirds.
Richard Clarke
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