UK Dairy Exports Show Mixed Results in Q1 2024, According to AHDB Report
Source: The DairyNews
The first quarter of 2024 has seen UK dairy exports remain mostly flat, with a slight overall decline, reports the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). Total dairy exports amounted to 327,000 tonnes, experiencing a marginal year-on-year decrease of 2,300 tonnes.
While exports to EU countries have remained stable, shipments to non-EU destinations have dropped by the same figure. Despite the overall stagnation, specific products such as cheese, whey, and yogurt have posted significant growth compared to the previous year. Notably, cheese exports reached the highest quarterly volume since 2020, driven by softened prices that have enhanced buyer attractiveness.
Cheese products led the gains with an increase of 9,800 tonnes, followed by whey and whey products which rose by 2,900 tonnes, and yogurt, which saw a rise of 1,700 tonnes. Conversely, other dairy products in the export basket reported declines.
EU nations continue to be the primary market for UK dairy exports, accounting for over 90% of the total. Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain notably contributed to this growth, while significant reductions in exports to Belgium, France, and Poland offset some gains.
In contrast, the non-EU export landscape was less favorable, with emerging markets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Asia showing some positive developments in countries like Lebanon, Bahrain, Singapore, and the Philippines. However, substantial declines in Bangladesh, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and China pulled the overall figures into negative territory for non-EU destinations.
Cheese products led the gains with an increase of 9,800 tonnes, followed by whey and whey products which rose by 2,900 tonnes, and yogurt, which saw a rise of 1,700 tonnes. Conversely, other dairy products in the export basket reported declines.
EU nations continue to be the primary market for UK dairy exports, accounting for over 90% of the total. Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain notably contributed to this growth, while significant reductions in exports to Belgium, France, and Poland offset some gains.
In contrast, the non-EU export landscape was less favorable, with emerging markets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Asia showing some positive developments in countries like Lebanon, Bahrain, Singapore, and the Philippines. However, substantial declines in Bangladesh, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and China pulled the overall figures into negative territory for non-EU destinations.
