Around £3m of UK red meat was exported to the US in January, twice the value of that in January 2021, HMRC figures show.
Exports of pork rose almost 50% to 592 tonnes, valued at £1.8m – up from £1.2m in January 2021. Beef shipments increased from 22 tonnes to 220 tonnes, worth £1.3m. The rise came after the US in September 2020 lifted a three-decade ban on British beef imposed in response to an outbreak of mad cow disease.
Exports of British lamb to the US are set to resume later this year following Washington’s decision in 2021 to remove its prohibition on UK sheep meat. The reopening of the US market could be worth £7m a year to British sheep farmers, AHDB said.
“The figures for January are very encouraging and our pork exports to the US continue to grow,” said AHDB Americas exports manager Susana Morris. However, with the US beef import quota now filled, the levy board expected beef exports to fall “as exporters now face a tariff of 26.4%, making it very difficult for the UK to compete on cost” she added.
Nevertheless, the US remained a key target market for AHDB’s export team, the levy board insisted, with work ongoing to raise the profile of pork, beef and lamb from the UK to buyers across the States.
Last month, more than 40 key influencers in America sampled UK pork and beef at an AHDB event in Los Angeles. Guests also met with exporters to learn about Britain’s animal welfare standards and traceability.
“We were delighted with the reception and feedback from our American guests,” Morris said. “We had a great deal of interest from buyers, chefs and butchers, who were shown cuts of red meat that differ to those in the US. They were also extremely interested in the UK’s high animal welfare standards and our hormone-free meat – all of which makes our red meat appetising to American consumers.”
The US presented “many opportunities for our red meat exporters” she added. “So, AHDB is committed to showcasing our products to buyers across the US.”
It comes after the UK has agreed trade deals with Australia, New Zealand and Japan, as part of efforts to broaden international commercial ties in the wake of Brexit. Talks have also started with India, the world’s sixth biggest economy. But the prospect of a much-touted free trade deal with the US have been dampened due to the Americans’ stance on aspects of the UK-EU relationship – in particular, the status of Northern Ireland.
