British red meat has taken pride of place at this year’s largest international trade show with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) championing the work of its levy payers.

Thirteen export businesses this week joined AHDB on its pavilion at SIAL Paris, attracting producers, distributors, representatives from food service and importers from markets across the world. The show provided the platform for exporters to meet with existing customers and the opportunity to make new business connections from around the world.

It builds on an impressive first half of 2026 which saw the total value of UK red meat exports reach £1.1 billion, up 15% on the year, with the volume of product shipped up 8% at almost 293,000 tonnes. 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.

AHDB's pavilion also welcomed a visit from the government’s Food and Farming Minister Stephen Morgan MP who met with exporters to discuss opportunities and challenges facing the beef, sheep meat and pig meat sectors.

British red meat has taken pride of place at this year’s largest international trade show with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) championing the work of its levy payers.

placeholder image — British red meat has taken pride of place at this year’s largest international trade show with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) championing the work of its levy payers.

The minister also spoke at the AHDB’s British Meat Dinner, featuring British beef, lamb and pork dishes and organised alongside SIAL, which was attended by around 300 industry and government guests.

Jonathan Eckley, AHDB international trade development director, said: “Total UK red meat exports in the first half of this year in both value and volume were very encouraging, despite a challenging global trading environment.

“Against this backdrop it has never been more important to ensure that the interests of our levy payers are represented and given maximum exposure on the world stage, reiterating why it is vital to maintain a wide portfolio of markets to maximise carcase utilisation.

“SIAL attracts buyers from across the world and really is the global shopwindow to showcase our world class produce. We have a fantastic story to tell and the show provides the perfect platform for us to ensure that the excellent production standards of our livestock farmers and the work of our export businesses in delivering products that are highly sought after the world over are given the recognition they rightly deserve.”

Thirteen export businesses this week joined AHDB on its pavilion at SIAL Paris, attracting producers, distributors, representatives from food service and importers from markets across the world. The show provided the platform for exporters to meet with existing customers and the opportunity to make new business connections from around the world.

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.

Prior to SIAL this included inward trade missions to the UK attracting buyers from China and the US, showcasing beef, sheep meat and pig meat production. Ahead of SIAL, Jonathan and AHDB Chair Emily Norton also joined Secretary of State the Right Honourable Dame Angela Eagle DBE MP and other industry leaders on a trade mission to India.

Earlier in the year Emily also joined then Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Right Honourable Emma Reynolds MP, and other industry leaders earlier this year for the UK’s first dedicated agri-food trade mission to Washington DC.

The visit coincided with the first tariff-free shipment of British beef arriving in the US as part of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal where both countries agreed to implement a reciprocal 13,000 tonne quota for beef.

In the first half of this year UK beef shipments to the US increased by 71% on the year at 1,038 tonnes and were worth £5.45 million – up 89.6% on the same period in 2025.

Jonathan added: “Increasing export demand helps create long-term value for our levy payers and supports the resilience and competitiveness of British farming. Our work both in the UK and in-market plays a key role in that and we will continue to work collaboratively with industry and government to help ensure our world class red meat produce continues to take pride of place on the global stage.”

Speaking ahead of SIAL, Lancashire-based sheep, dairy and beef farmer John Alpe said: “As a farmer, I’m passionate about exports as it provides us with access to more markets. Trade missions and showcasing our produce at international trade shows is crucial.

“As an individual farm business, we can’t affect that but as a collective of levy payers throughout the country, it gives us more bang for our buck in giving us the opportunity to be seen and build relationships right across the world.”