Beef and lamb February trade update: Value of beef exports rise in line with growing UK beef price as volumes ease

Key points:

• Total beef imports for the year to February are down year on year, but volumes of imported Australian beef have risen by 144%
• Beef exports (Jan-Feb 2025) have reduced by 12% year on year in volume but have risen by a reciprocal 12% in value, reflecting the record beef prices.
• UK lamb imports have risen again year on year to total 11,500 tonnes for January and February combined.
• Lamb exports have remained steadier in terms of volumes, but have risen in terms of value, once again reflecting the higher lamb prices seen in Jan and Feb.

Beef

Imports

Beef imports for the first 2 months of 2025 totalled approximately 47,000 tonnes, 13% lower in volume compared to the same period last year, which saw bumper beef imports. This reduction in volumes has primarily come from Ireland, with Irish imports down 16% (6,000 tonnes) on the year.

Beef trade with Germany is normally fairly limited, however, the effects of the foot-and-mouth disease trade restrictions on Germany have been evident in the trade data. Beef imports from Germany for Jan-Feb 2025 were down 81% on the year from 1,200 tonnes to 200 tonnes.

UK beef imports Jan-Feb

Source: HMRC via TDM LLC

There has however, been a marked increase (144%) in Australian beef imports for the first 2 months of this year totalling 1,200 tonnes. The vast majority (95%) of this imported product from Australia was fresh/chilled boneless cuts which would include steaks.

Looking forward, Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) report that almost 700 tonnes of Australian beef was shipped to the UK in March with 57% of the volume being chilled grain-fed beef. In terms of cuts, increases included topside/inside (+97%), brisket (+87%) and striploin (+100%).

Exports

Beef exports for Jan to Feb are down 12% on the year to 20,600 tonnes, however values are up 12% to £110 million, reflecting the exceptionally strong GB beef prices. Despite the elevated UK beef price, the greatest volume of beef exported is in high value boneless cuts.

UK beef exports by product

Source: HMRC via TDM LLC

Reductions in UK beef export volumes have been seen to key destinations; including Ireland and the Netherlands, as the GB beef price outstrips the continental equivalent. France remains the highest value market, up 17% from last year to £34 million.

There have however been some increases in select, smaller volume, exports such as beef carcasses to Belgium (up 53% in volumes on the year) boneless and processed beef to Spain (up 135% in volumes on the year) and offal to Senegal (up 408% in volumes).

Lamb

Imports

UK sheep meat imports in the first two months of 2025 are up 12% on 2024 levels and up 59% from 2023 to 11,500 tonnes.

New Zealand and Australia have once again supplied the majority of these lamb imports with 7,000 tonnes and 2,800 tonnes received from each country respectively. The MLA report that for the month of March, 2,700 tonnes were shipped to the UK from Australia, the largest volume of sheep meat shipped outside of December on record.  

Ireland’s share of sheep meat imports has fallen in the first two months of 2025, down 23% on the year to 1500 tonnes. This may be due to significant price differentials between the southern hemisphere compared to the UK and Ireland.

UK sheep meat imports Jan-Feb

Source: HMRC via TDM LLC

Exports

Meanwhile, sheep meat exports were relatively flat on the year at 14,000 tonnes shipped between Jan-Feb 2025 representing a 0.9% fall in volumes year on year. However, export values are up 12% valuing £102 million reflecting good demand, despite the higher domestic lamb price at the start of the year.

UK sheep meat exports by product Jan-Feb 2025 

Source: HMRC via TDM LLC

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