News from AHDB
11 Sep 2026
Red meat and dairy exports hit £2 billion in first half of 2026
UK red meat and dairy exports hit £2 billion in the first half of this year, helping underpin domestic prices for farmers against a backdrop of a challenging international trading climate. Latest HMRC figures revealed the total value of UK red meat exports in the first half of this year reached £1.1 billion, up 15% on the year, with the volume of product shipped up 8% at almost 293,000 tonnes. Dairy shipments for the period stood at £973 million, down 12% on the year, with 614,000 tonnes exported, a decrease of 11% on the same period in 2025. International trade experts at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) said that maintaining a wide portfolio of markets was key to helping ensure world-class British red meat and dairy produce continue to thrive. Values of total beef and sheep meat exports for the period increased by 23% to £450 million and 15% to £401 million respectively on the year, largely driven by demand from European markets. Shipments of pig meat from the UK for the period also increased 5% in value on the year to £267 million. UK dairy exports to key destinations, including Saudi Arabia, for the period increased by nearly 36% on the year at £14 million, with the volume of product shipped up 33% at 4,215 tonnes, while shipments to Asia and Oceania were worth £79 million – up 7%, with volumes up 10% at 29,103 tonnes. Trade with China was a particular highlight, with an increase in the value of shipments of 38% to £28 million, with volumes up 43% at 10,579 tonnes. Jonathan Eckley, AHDB International Trade Development Director, said: “The value of red meat exports in the first half of this year is very encouraging, despite challenging global trading conditions. It demonstrates why it is vital to maintain a wide portfolio of markets to maximise carcase utilisation. “It is a testament to the excellent production standards of our livestock farmers and the work of our export businesses in delivering products that remain highly sought after the world over. With increases in the value and volume of red meat products being shipped during this period, there is clearly continued demand for world-class British produce.”
Rachael Speed, AHDB Senior International Trade Development Manager, said: “Despite a challenging first half of 2026, exports continue to play a critical role for the UK dairy sector, especially with growth to key markets like Saudi Arabia and Asia and Oceania.”
AHDB continues to deliver a comprehensive programme of international trade development activity on behalf of levy payers to support the red meat and dairy sectors, including two recent inward missions for the beef and lamb and pork sectors. Stakeholders from China and the US headed to the UK for a series of farm and processor visits to find out more about UK production.
In October AHDB will host an inward mission to the UK, welcoming dairy buyers from Asia and Mexico and immersing them in UK production systems and showcasing production standards. October will also see AHDB spearheading its biggest overseas activity of the year when it will be joined by red meat export businesses at SIAL Paris – this year’s largest international trade show – to showcase British red meat to a global audience of visitors. The wider team will also be supporting dairy export businesses at the show.
Jonathan added: “Exports play a key role in underpinning domestic prices. This is why investing levy in international trade development continues to play a pivotal role in AHDB supporting the red meat and dairy sectors, identifying opportunities for our world–class produce in new markets and maximising opportunities in existing ones. Maintaining a wide portfolio of markets is a critical part of this process.
“This investment in international trade development enables us to deliver an extensive programme of activity to support our levy payers, including work on market access, inward and outward trade missions and flying the flag for world-class British red meat and dairy at major trade events around the world like SIAL. We will continue to work collaboratively with industry and other stakeholders to drive further growth on behalf of levy payers in the red meat and dairy sectors.”
Further details about opportunities for red meat and dairy exports can be found in the AHDB analysis Prospects for agri-food exports .
Source: press release issued by AHDB.