Australian beef and Australian lamb imports to the UK have increased steadily. One year on from the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the benefits of the free trade negotiations are clear.
Total Australian beef exports to the UK from Australia have increased by 415%. Total UK imports of sheep from Australia have increased by 85%.
UK chefs and food industry professionals like the consistency and premium quality of Aussie Beef and Aussie Lamb. The consistency and quality are due to high standards in food safety, animal welfare and sustainability.
There is no sign of the ‘influx of cheap product’ feared at the time the UK Australia trade deal was signed.
If you are looking for Aussie beef and lamb in the UK, check our Where To Buy list. It includes Distributors, Catering Butchers, Retail Shops, and Restaurants.
A positive impact of Brexit on the UK economy, the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement came into effect on 31st May 2023.
Beef Exports – From May 2023 to May 2024 Australia has exported 4,144 tonnes of beef in total to the UK market. Grain-fed beef has increased by around 167%. A point of difference for UK consumers is Australian wagyu beef.
Grassfed products have also proven popular, with exports here plugging gaps in seasonal production of UK beef. Total beef exports to the UK from Australia have increased by 415% since the FTA came into force.
Sheepmeat Exports - Australian sheepmeat exports continued to grow to just over 16,000 tonnes. Growth has is across all categories of chilled and frozen lamb and mutton. Total sheepmeat exports to the UK from Australia increasing by 85%. Lamb exports are filling gaps in the UK lamb season.
Overall, the UK is a small market for Australian exports. It makes up only about 2% of the total red meat exported from Australia each year.
Aussie Beef & Lamb representatives said that foodservice and hospitality are still important for Aussie food in the UK. Chefs, caterers, and restaurant owners praise Australian beef and lamb for being consistent and high quality.
“Our beef and lamb is really impressing the food service industry here in the UK,” explains Stephen Edwards, Business Manager for Meat & Livestock Australia.
“We’ve seen a lot of demand for prestige cuts and high-end products such as award-wining Wagyu and premium grain-fed beef. Chefs want to buy wagyu beef in the UK. These are trained chefs, experts in their field and those with a keen eye for a good quality cut of meat, so we’re pleased to be making inroads with the right type of people. If it’s impressing them then I’m sure UK consumers will be equally happy.”
Stephen Edwards explains; “The UK needs to import around 30% of its red meat each year, and we’re making headway with servicing a small percentage of that import need, competing with products from Ireland, Argentina, Poland and France which continue to supply much larger quantities than Australia does. Globally, the UK is still a relatively small market for us with most of our products heading for the US, Japan and the Middle East. To put it into context, we export around 269,000 tonnes to North America each year.
“In terms of the products that are popular, grainfed beef is growing in traction in the UK as a more highly marbled type of beef with excellent taste and tenderness. Our wide range of grainfed imports; brisket, silverside and topside, have all proven popular with people wanting to buy Australian beef in the UK.
“And Brits certainly love eating lamb. Leg of lamb, accounts for 80% of all chilled lamb imports from Australia. Demonstrating how imports are driven by the British lamb season, with November being the top month for lamb imports of this nature.
“The market here is still very much driven by foodservice and hospitality, with more and more pubs, restaurants, take aways and caterers switching on to the quality and consistency of Australian red meat.”
A large majority of Australian Beef and Lamb available in the UK is Halal certified. The rigorous standards are followed throughout the supply chain. Australia’s Halal certification is set in legislation by the Australian Government. It starts with the rearing of livestock all the way to processing and distribution.
Read more about Halal-Certified Australian Beef and Lamb in the UK.
The Australian red meat industry is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and has made great strides toward this goal already.
Beef and Lamb sustainability has a long history in Australia. Emma Boughen, Business Development Manager – UK for Meat & Livestock Australia added: “We’re extremely proud of our sustainability credentials and as an industry we’re well on our way to achieving the goal of carbon neutrality by 2030.
“When we do export to countries like the UK, the products arrive here in large shipments by boat which have a lower carbon footprint than air freight. Transport only accounts for a small percentage of the emissions for red meat production. Thanks to our strict hygiene and food safety practices, we have a very long shelf life. The journey aids the ageing process too, which improves tenderness.
“In terms of animal welfare, the UK and Australia have a shared affinity in terms of food safety and the protection and humane treatment of animals. Our cattle and sheep spend the vast majority of their lives roaming freely on vast landscapes. We have some of the strictest food safety procedures around so British consumers can be safe in the knowledge that they food they’re consuming meets the high standards expected here on British soil.”
Aussie Beef & Lamb and internationally acclaimed chef Roy Ner hosted an intimate dining experience at Jeru restaurant in Mayfair to mark the year anniversary of the UK FTA.
Invited guests were treated to a menu with the very best beef and lamb exports from Australia. Dishes included Slow Cooked Lamb, Chocolate Aged Beef Tomahawk and Chocolate Aged Full Blood Beef Sirloin. Each of the dishes, were expertly prepared by Roy and his team at Jeru.
They use high-quality ingredients from the UK and around the world. They combine Mediterranean cooking methods with grilling. This creates delicious dishes that respect tradition and highlight seasonal flavours.
Chef Roy Ner became an official Aussie Beef Mate ambassador in 2023. He now works with the Aussie Beef & Lamb brand to promote the benefits of Australian red meat exports here in the UK. Of Moroccan heritage, Roy spent almost two decades in Australia firmly establishing his culinary credentials and working alongside leading Australian chefs.
Speaking at the event, Chef Roy Ner said: “I spent 18 wonderful years in Australia, enjoying its diverse cultures and delicious cuisines and I've become quite the BBQ expert, especially with the amazing meat there.
“When I moved to the UK and Australian beef and lamb became available in the trade, it felt like a natural fit to use more of it on my menu. It was an honour to become an ambassador for Meat & Livestock Australia and the Aussie Beef & Lamb brand. I take great pride in my background and love sharing and showcasing the finest produce available with my guests and friends.”
