Sheep Meat Imports Jumped 17 Percent in 2022
The total volume of fresh and frozen sheep meat imported into the United Kingdom in the past twelve months saw a substantial rise of 17 per cent to 63,800 tonnes, the latest Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) Market Bulletin reports.
Volumes received from the largest source of imported sheepmeat – New Zealand – were 3% higher than 2021. Significantly, though, much more than usual of this volume arrived in the form of frozen product as opposed to fresh. Frozen lamb accounted for 86 per cent of the total New Zealand fresh and frozen sheepmeat imports, whereas in 2021 the equivalent figure was 57 per cent.
“While there’s been a long-term decline in New Zealand lamb exports to the UK, we saw a 3 per cent year-on-year increase in 2022, and we also saw increases in imports from Ireland. However, the months of September through to November recorded abnormally high levels of frozen New Zealand product entering the UK,”
said Glesni Phillips, HCC’s Intelligence, Analysis and Business Insight Executive, in February’s Market Bulletin which is available now from the HCC website.
“This news may be something that will surprise consumers, and has likely played a part in putting pressure on domestic lamb prices and causing volatility within the market. Furthermore, it could mean a longer-term disruption as frozen New Zealand lamb from the last quarter of 2022 may be still coming onto the market now.”
Business News Wales
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