Red meat exporters from the UK are set to join the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) on a visit to the US to help grow pork, beef and lamb exports – which, the board said, were worth almost £35 million last year.
Six UK exporters from across the UK will attend the Annual Meat Conference in Texas with the aim of showcasing the quality and sustainability of red meat products from the UK.
The conference takes place in Dallas from March 6-8, 2023, and, AHDB said, will provide UK exporters with the opportunity to network with more than 1,500 meat professionals from across the US.
AHDB will share a stand with Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), and will join more than 100 exhibitors in the meat hall, providing visitors with samples of beef, pork and lamb.
Exports to the US
The US is a key target market for AHDB’s export team, it said, with demand for UK meat increasing over the past year.
According to the latest data for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), between January and November 2022, pork exports increased 11% from 6,645t to 7,409t – worth £26 million.
Beef exports were worth £7.9 million with 1,189t shipped in the first 11 months of 2022. However, shipments were down on the previous year, due to the beef import quota filling quickly as other exporting nations also targeted the market.
AHDB’s senior export manager for the Americas, Susana Morris, said: “This is a hugely important mission, as the US presents a lot of opportunities for our red meat exports with the market now open to all three meats.
“The conference will provide us and our exporters with an opportunity to learn and ask questions about the meat, food service and retail sectors in the US as well as networking with critical industry stakeholders and discovering how to leverage consumer demands.”
