2022: Beef yearly trade review, exports up and imports down

Beef imports for the last month of 2022 reached 21,500 tonnes, marking a near 10% decrease in volume from December 2021. The majority of the decline was driven by lower shipments from Ireland, continuing the trend seen from the months previous. For the full year of 2022, fresh and frozen beef imports totalled 233,300 tonnes, down 3.6% from the 2021 total. As the year progressed, imports were above 2021 volumes in the first two quarters, but fell below year-ago levels in the second half of the year. This is partly explained by lower-than-average trade in the first part of 2021 (immediately following EU Exit). Total beef imports are predominantly from the EU, with Ireland remaining a key market, although volumes have eased in 2022. Outside of the EU, imports from South America increased year-on-year from 2021. Looking at the product mix, boneless fresh and frozen beef remains a key import into the UK. The value of total beef imports reached £1.24 billion for the total of 2022, an ...