UK Red meat exporters go east with increasing demand in the Philippines

There is an increasing demand for pork and beef in the Philippines as shipments of red meat to the from the UK were worth almost £50m in 2021.

Exporters took part in the first Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) trade mission to Asia in more than two years. Nine exporters took part in the three-day programme which included a seminar to update them on latest developments in the UK’s second largest non-EU beef and pork export market, together with the all-important one-to-one meetings with key Philippine import companies.

Build networks

They also attended a British meat reception and market visits during the mission to help provide the opportunity to re-connect and build networks in the country. 

AHDB senior exports Manager Susan Stewart said: “The Philippines is an important and growing market for red meat exports. In 2021 the value of UK pork shipments to the Philippines increased fourfold and the value of beef exports grew by 65 per cent, which is incredibly encouraging.​

“Building and maintaining business relationships in market is key to our continued success across the region and this trade mission provided us with the ideal platform to do that for the first time since Covid, to highlight our high standards of production and quality products.​

Trends

“The mission has also helped us gain more insight into changing trends and to ultimately support our exporters in maximising the opportunities presented.”​

AHDB works on behalf of levy payers, in partnership with UK Government and industry, to secure market access and international trade opportunities. It delivers a critical role supporting: It is a statutory levy board funded by farmers and others in the supply chain. 

Last year, domestic lamb sales gained a welcome boost ​​in the past year as the COVID-19 lockdown drove up demand for takeaway fare such as kebabs, according to the AHDB.