A modest 4 per cent increase in red meat exports from Scotland in the past 12 months was welcomed last week by Quality Meat Scotland chairman Jim McLaren. He said that – while it was good to see exports rise to £81.4 million last year compared with £78m the previous 12 months – some of the rise was down to price increases and only part due to increased volume of sales.
Speaking at the SIAL food industry fair in Paris, where nine Scottish-based meat companies are meeting their customers, McLaren said: “We have to get the balance right between exports and the home market.”
He was keen to stress the positive message from the export figures that red meat produced in Scotland was in demand abroad. The demand was not just for the top quality meat but also for lesser value cuts.
