Export volumes of UK sheep meat to non-EU markets in the first quarter of 2014 have hit a new record high.
Shipments to these markets increased by 53 per cent compared with the same period last year at 5,430 tonnes, with the Far East and West Africa the leading destinations.
Hong Kong is now second only to France as the largest volume destination for UK sheep meat exports, with volumes for the first quarter of 2014 up 38 per cent on the same period last year. It accounts for more than 75 per cent of the UK’s non-EU trade.
West Africa has also become an increasingly important region for exports of UK sheep meat, with Ghana the ninth largest global destination.
Jonathan Eckley, EBLEX export marketing executive, said: “Securing market access to more non-EU markets continues to be one of the key focuses of EBLEX’s export team. We’ve experienced a strong growth in trade with non-EU markets since 2008 and the first quarter figures for 2014 are very encouraging.
“While Hong Kong remains the largest non-EU market for UK sheep meat, we’ve also seen growth in exports to other destinations in the region, such as the Philippines and Singapore. Similarly, Ghana is very much the gateway to West Africa, with volumes also increasing to Congo, the Ivory Coast and Liberia.”
The UK currently has access to 74 non-EU markets for sheep meat and 101 markets in total, including the EU.
