Food: Imports

(asked on 27th January 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) tonnage and (b) value of (i) beef, (ii) sheep meat, (iii) pork, (iv) dairy and (v) poultry products have been imported in the last three years, by country of source.


Answered by
George Eustice Portrait
George Eustice
This question was answered on 30th January 2020

According to Defra analysis of HM Revenue & Customs overseas trade statistics, UK imports in the last three years were as follows:

Beef & veal and beef products:

2016

2017

2018

Tonnes

340,000

360,000

360,000

Value

£1.2bn

£1.3bn

£1.4bn

The Irish Republic was the top import market for beef and veal, with 700,000 tonnes worth £2.6 billion over the three years. Second was Brazil with 80,000 tonnes worth £274 million. Third was the Netherlands with 60,000 tonnes worth £262 million.

Sheep meat:

2016

2017

2018

Tonnes

90,000

80,000

78,000

Value

£345m

£369m

£373m

New Zealand was the top import market for sheep meat, with 170,000 tonnes worth £790 million over the three years. Second was Australia with 32,000 tonnes worth £140 million. Third was the Irish Republic with 23,000 tonnes worth £78 million.

Pork, bacon & ham:

2016

2017

2018

Tonnes

680,000

690,000

670,000

Value

£1.3bn

£1.5bn

£1.4bn

Denmark was the top import market for pork, bacon and ham, with 690,000 tonnes worth £1.3 billion over the three years. Second was the Netherlands with 450,000 tonnes worth £890 million. Third was Germany with 360,000 tonnes worth £754 million.

Dairy products:

2016

2017

2018

Tonnes

1,400,000

1,500,000

1,600,000

Value

£2.6bn

£3.0bn

£3.3bn

The Irish Republic was the top import market for dairy products, with 1,300,000 tonnes worth £2.2 billion over the three years. Second was France with 840,000 tonnes worth £1.5 billion. Third was Germany with 700,000 tonnes worth £1.1 billion.

Poultry meat and poultry products:

2016

2017

2018

Tonnes

860,000

850,000

860,000

Value

£2.0bn

£2.2bn

£2.4bn

The Netherlands was the top import market for poultry meat and poultry products, with 700,000 tonnes worth £1.9 billion over the three years. Second was Thailand with 440,000 tonnes worth £1.3 billion. Third was Poland with 380,000 tonnes worth £929 million.

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