Where does UK meat come from?
David Richardson
Updated on March 23, 2026
The major exporter of beef to the UK is Ireland. In 2019, Irish beef accounted for 78% of imports entering the UK. Ireland is also the largest export destination for UK beef exports with a large amount of trade taking place between the two countries, with further processing taking place on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Where does UK gets its meat from?
Beef makes up nearly half of all meat imports to the UK with pork accounting for just over a third and lamb around 20 percent. Our largest source of imported meat is the Republic of Ireland, which is home to more cattle than people and is among the top four beef exporters worldwide.How much UK meat is imported?
The UK currently imports around 35 per cent of the beef and veal it consumes or around 250,000 tonnes annually. In 2015, over 90% of UK beef exports went to other EU countries. Ireland and the Netherlands are the most significant destinations, accounting for 55–65 per cent of all trade.Where does UK pork come from?
Denmark is the dominant supplier, accounting for over a quarter of all UK pork imports. Together with Germany and the Netherlands, they account for 60 per cent of imports. The EU supplies virtually all the pork imported into the UK, due to the high import tariffs on pork from elsewhere.Where does the UK export most beef?
The EU is largest export market, while approximately 11% of current UK beef exports, worth £31 million, are sent to non-EU markets.Inside The Meat Processing Plant - Inside The Food Factory | Incredible Process Worth Watching HD
Where does Asda source its meat?
With regards to meat, Asda sources its Pork from a UK-based supplier, but not all of the meat is from the UK. It has committed to increasing its British Pork supplies to 80%, however, all of its own brand sausages are produced using British sources.Is UK self sufficient in meat?
Meat, dairy, and eggs make up an important part of the UK's overall diet and agricultural economy and are areas where the UK is largely self-sufficient in volume. Imports of high value dairy and beef allow consumers their preferred cuts of meat and dairy products.Does UK export pork to China?
By 2020, China was buying 50% of British pork exports, or around 200,000 tonnes of pork. The growth was borderline exponential, driving almost all of the industry's overall growth.Where does UK import chicken from?
United Kingdom imports Poultry Meat primarily from: Netherlands ($566M), Poland ($367M), Ireland ($105M), Germany ($70.3M), and Belgium ($69.3M). The fastest growing import markets in Poultry Meat for United Kingdom between 2019 and 2020 were Thailand ($2.36M), Germany ($2.21M), and Sweden ($1.15M).Where does the UK get its bacon from?
Denmark is the main supplier of the UK's imported pork. There are thousands of pig farms across the country and pork is the Danes' third most valuable export.Who is the biggest meat producer in the UK?
Biggest companies in the Meat Processing industry in the UKIBIS World covers 5 companies in the Meat Processing in the UK industry, including Dunbia (UK), ABP Food Group, Cranswick plc, Hilton Food Group plc and Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd.