Red meat exporters from the UK have met with key buyers from Japan to explore further trade opportunities.

Five Japanese importers visited the UK to join the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) for a five-day mission, to learn more about sustainable beef, lamb and pork production.

Scottish producers are well-placed to capitalise on the Japanese market, where sophisticated consumers value authenticity, provenance and quality.

The mission – the first inward mission from Asia since the pandemic – included a number of farm visits in the North of England and a tour of an abattoir and meat processing site, culminating on 25 May with a networking dinner at Butchers Hall in London where the delegation had the chance to meet with leading UK beef, lamb and pork exporters and explore new business opportunities.

Last year UK red meat exports globally hit record levels with a value of £1.7 billion, including beef exports to Japan which saw an increase in value of 68 per cent to £16.3 million. AHDB’s analysis Prospects for UK agri-food exports, launched earlier this year, also identified opportunities for UK pork, beef and lamb in Japan as a high-value economy and net importer.

Between January and November, 2022, shipments of UK pig meat rose by 54% to level at just shy of £5.1million.

In all, some 1420 tonnes of pig meat was sent to Japan which compares to 1330 tonnes exported in the same period in 2021.

Japan, which has the third-biggest economy in the world, with a population of 125m, relies on imports for around 60% of the food it consumes, due to insufficient agricultural land.

Jonathan Eckley, AHDB Head of International Trade Development, said: “Japan is an important and growing market for our red meat exporters. We want to maximise the opportunities that are presented there, with a particular interest from Japanese consumers in high-welfare and environmentally sustainable food production which the UK is in a strong position to fulfil.

“The visit provided an ideal platform for us to showcase our sustainable, high production standards throughout the supply chain, as well as organising key meetings between Japanese buyers and UK exporters to potentially capitalise on opportunities in this valuable market.

“Export development is one of AHDB’s key strategic objectives, working collaboratively with industry and government, to cultivate further opportunities for our red meat and dairy sectors. Opportunities in Japan and other markets will be in the spotlight on 22 June at the AHDB Export Conference in London.

“Missions like this are instrumental in helping to develop relationships with buyers and key markets and helping our levy payers maximise the opportunities available to them. With this in mind, we will be organising another inward mission in July with visitors from North America, Asia and the Middle East experience what we have to offer first hand.”