UK increases import of frozen beef

Fresh imports eased in November, accounting for 66.3% of total imports, compared with 71.6% in October. There was a slight increase in frozen imports from the EU on the month, most notably Germany, Poland and the Netherlands, however increased trade with countries such as Brazil and New Zealand have helped bolster the frozen category. This trend supports recent industry commentary, highlighting that the global frozen meat market would increase by almost 5% to 2027, driven by changes in lifestyle and convenience trends. In the year to date (Jan – Nov), 211,700 tonnes of fresh and frozen beef have been imported into the UK. This is 6,400 tonnes (2.9%) back on the same period in 2021. Whilst fresh beef remains the largest import category, there has been a shift towards increased frozen beef entering the UK over the last few years, increasing its market share from around 32% in 2019-2021, up to more than 37% in 2022 for the year to date. Export volumes of fresh and frozen beef for ...