Home grown lamb flocks abroad

Exports of sheep meat from the UK rose by a giant 15.9 per cent in the first five months of this year to 32,000 tonnes with estimates showing England supplying close to 20,000 tonnes of the total.

Figures released today (August 2) by the English Beef and Lamb Executive at the Sheep 2006 Event at Malvern show France is still by far our biggest customer with 70 per cent of the export trade where we have gained market share against a background of falling consumer demand.

Biggest increase of all is for added value sheep meat cuts with a year-on-year increase of an enormous 36 per cent. Particular favourites are loins to Italy and shoulders to France while the home market's favourite is leg of lamb.

At the same time demand for our sheep meat has also risen in Belgium, Austria, Sweden and Switzerland while new markets have been opened in Finland and the Baltics.

Jean-Pierre Garnier, EBLEX Export manager, said: "There is still room for further profitable increases in exports so long as we get the product right for the markets we are targeting.

"Exports are an important part of English producers' incomes as they contribute to higher farm gate prices and better returns."