International Trade Fair Signals Strong Demand from Overseas Buyers

The opening days of SIAL in Paris, one of the world’s largest food trade fairs, have seen a very encouraging level of interest for beef, lamb and pork from Scotland.

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) today (22nd October 2019) confirmed processors on their stand at this leading event on the global trade platform were receiving very strong interest from both existing and potential new overseas customers.

During a reception on the stand, QMS Chair Kate Rowell said this should send a positive signal to Scottish exporters and those working in the wider red meat industry in Scotland.

“This week we are continuing to focus on strengthening our relationships with our much-valued, long-established overseas customers who recognise all that sets our beef, lamb and pork apart,” said Mrs Rowell.

“This ranges from our quality assurance and animal welfare messages to our sustainability criteria. We will also continue to seek out and welcome new export opportunities,” she said.

The results of the annual exporters’ survey undertaken by QMS reveal the value of exports of beef and lamb over the past year (to October 2018) stands at around £75 million.

The EU accounted for 97.5% of beef exports by value and 98% by volume in the year to October 2018.  During the year, fifth quarter product has had greater presence outside the EU, with non-EU markets accounting for 49% of sales by volume and 38% by value.

By far the largest markets for beef from Scotland were France and Monaco, Italy, and the Netherlands. Collectively these accounted for a combined 73% by value and 76.5% of the volume exported. 

The average value per tonne of beef sold was highest to Austria and Germany, closely followed by Belgium and Luxembourg.

Sheepmeat exports from Scotland totalled over £30m, with the EU accounting for around 96% in volume and more than 97% of the value of sales. 

A key opportunity presented by export markets is the demand for “fifth quarter” products for which demand on the domestic market is lower.

Overseas demand for these products is important in terms of driving value from the whole carcass, and during the past year exports of fifth quarter products generated over £5m.

The main markets for fifth quarter, according to the QMS figures, were France and Monaco and Hong Kong/Macau, which collectively accounted for more than two-thirds of revenue. 

With an exhibition size of over 284,000 m², the SIAL trade fair attracts over 160,000 trade visitors from 194 countries, making it a major event for many of Europe’s most influential buyers.

The presence at SIAL in Paris, as well as other international trade shows and activities, is funded by the £2 million fund of AHDB red meat levies ring-fenced for collaborative projects which is managed by the three GB meat levy bodies – AHDB, HCC and QMS.

The ring-fenced fund is an interim arrangement while a long-term solution is sought on the issue of levies being collected at point of slaughter in England, for animals which have been reared in Scotland or Wales.

Pic caption: Kate Rowell, Chair of Quality Meat Scotland, pictured on the QMS stand at SIAL in Paris today.

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For further press information, please contact Carol McLaren, QMS Head of Communications, on mobile 07894738607 or by email: cmclaren@qmscotland.co.uk

Notes to editors:

• QMS is the public body responsible for promoting the PGI labelled Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb brands in the UK and abroad and also promoting Scottish pork products under the Specially Selected Pork logo.
• Please note that the use of the word Scotch in the Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI brands is correct and should not be substituted for an alternative such as Scots or Scottish. The history of the use of the word Scotch in this way, traces back to the 18th century.
• QMS also helps the Scottish red meat sector improve its sustainability, efficiency and profitability and maximise its contribution to Scotland's economy.
• The quality assurance schemes run by QMS cover more than 90% of livestock farmed for red meat in Scotland. They offer consumers in the UK and overseas the legal guarantee that the meat they buy has come from animals that have spent their whole lives being raised to some of the world’s strictest welfare standards.
• Scotland’s beef, lamb and pork producers make an important contribution to the country’s economic, social and environmental sustainability, contributing over £2 billion to the annual GDP of Scotland and supporting around 50,000 jobs (many in fragile rural areas) in the farming, agricultural supply and processing sectors.
• For more information visit www.qmscotland.co.uk or follow QMS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram