Fresh and frozen beef imports have seen a 16% decline of 3,500 tonnes since August 2021 as consumers spend less on food amid the cost-of-living crisis.
According to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (ADHB), Ireland has remained the UK’s largest beef supplier, having sent 12,400 tonnes in August. However, in comparison to August 2021, Ireland’s import volumes dropped by 27%.
Imports from the Netherlands were also down 24%, while beef supplies from Poland saw a 41% dip at a combined drop of 800 tonnes more than the year before.
Since July, Irish producers have been facing “significant” price hikes in producing food products, according to figures by the Central Statistics Office. In the 12 months to June, dairy manufacturer prices increased by 49.1%, meat products rose by 14.5% and grain milling, starches and animal feed producer prices rose 11.7%.
“Supplies at home are quite tight but holding up, hence the fall in imports,” British Meat Processors Association CEO, Nick Allen told The Grocer.
He added that there had been a “significant drop in demand” for the meat product in the UK.
This comes as food prices pushed inflation back to the 40-year high seen in July this month, according to the latest data from The Office for National Statistics (ONS). Currently above 10%, this figure remains well above the government’s target of just 2%.
Many consumers as a result have been looking to buy cheaper food options or are looking for more cost-effective ways to cook. Last week, Waitrose revealed that slow cooking ingredients such as beef shin, ox cheek and lamb neck have become more popular.
This came following the supermarket giants research which found that 72% of consumers are now “more mindful” of their budgets, with a third “very concerned” about the effect of rising costs.
