OSLO: Exports were up eight per cent on the year earlier to 41,600 tonnes, according to AHDB and EU exports to China more than doubled.
European beef exports increased in the first quarter of 2016. According to figures from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), shipments were up by 8% on the year earlier to 41,600 tonnes.
Analysts from the British beef marketing agency comment that despite the increase, the EU remains a small player on the global beef market, with exports accounting for 3% of EU production, while imports for 4% of consumption.
The European Union exports to a large number of markets. The five largest, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Norway, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Israel, accounted for half of all trade in the first quarter of this year.
AHBD claim this is largely due to a particularly sharp growth of over 250% in exports to Israel.
Apart from the five main markets, a number of other countries took 1,000-2,000 tonnes in the first quarter. Exports to Vietnam, the Ivory Coast, the Philippines and Ghana all had sharp growth this year.
AHDB also say the US has now emerged as a small market for the European Union, with shipments of 420 tonnes in the first quarter. Exports to China more doubled to 510 tonnes.
Demand for high-quality hindquarter cuts in the EU was not particularly firm early this year, however, they say “normally this trade is more important during the summer months when demand for steak cuts is higher.”
“Clearly some EU exporters are finding new markets even if the volumes shipped are still low, the data indicates that chilled and frozen products are equally important,” commented AHDB analysts.
For the outlook, “there should be scope for further modest growth in EU beef exports, including from the UK, but lack of price competitiveness could well restrict volumes.
In the first quarter of 2016, Mercosur countries accounted for 70% fresh, chilled and frozen beef imports, with North America accounting for 8%.
