AHDB Flags Growing Australian and New Zealand Meat Volumes
AHDB Warns of Rising Australasian Beef and Lamb Imports to UK
Growing imports of beef and lamb from Australia and New Zealand are expected to increase competition in the UK market as free trade agreement quotas expand.
According to analysis from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, import volumes are likely to rise steadily through to 2032 as tariff free quotas under the UK’s trade deals with Australia and New Zealand continue to expand.
New Zealand utilised around 95% of its available beef quota in 2025, while Australia shipped just 29% of its permitted volume. The disparity suggests there is significant capacity for further growth in Australian exports to the UK as the year progresses.
The AHDB report highlights that increasing imports from the Southern Hemisphere could add competitive pressure to the UK red meat sector, particularly during seasonal supply peaks.
Source: AHDB | 4 March 2026
Read full article Share on X