The UK has become a net exporter of lamb for the first time in at least 50 years, according to new data from industry levy-funded body EBLEX.
Sheep meat exports from the UK in 2011 were 11% up on the previous year, totalling 98,500 tonnes product weight, while UK sheep meat imports fell 13% to 88,000 tonnes product weight.
The rise in exports was mainly driven by very strong demand on the continent with a number of EU member states increasingly looking to the UK. Exports to France accounted for 60% with an increase of 3.1% by volume, while shipments to Germany and Ireland both increased by around two thirds year-on-year.
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