EXPORTS of sheep meat in the first six months of 2014 have hit their highest half-year level since 1998, according to industry body EBLEX.
Global freight shipments totalled 48,000 tonnes in the first half of the year, an increase of almost 2 per cent compared to the same period in 2013.
Demand from non-EU nations has helped to drive the growth, with export shipments to these markets 36 per cent ahead of 2013 levels.
The total value of UK sheep meat exports for the period was up 3 per cent on the year at £183.9 millio