UK: import volume of lamb 2017-2018, by country of origin

In 2018, the number one country of origin for the United Kingdom’s lamb and mutton imports was New Zealand. Imports from Oceania came to a total just under 51 million metric tons of lamb from New Zealand and almost 10 million tons from Australia. The biggest provider of lamb and mutton from Europe was Ireland with slightly over seven million tons. Compared to the prior year, imports were down. However, providers such as France and Argentina more than doubled volume in these years, while imports from all countries mentioned above had shrunk.

Trade in detail

While in the past decade import values were often higher than in 2018, they are now at roughly the same level they were in 2008. With an import value of 373 million British pounds, 2018’s imports were worth two million less than 2017’s. In 2018, more imports were frozen than chilled and a lot more imports were bone-in cuts rather than boneless.

UK lamb and mutton market

The UK had about 22 million sheep and lambs on agricultural holdings in 2018. On Average, consumers purchased 36 grams of mutton and lamb per person per week in 2017/18.