AHDB data shows that the UK imported 13,184 tonnes of fresh and frozen beef from Ireland in April, which represents 64% of all their imports for the month.
In April 2025, they imported 15,692 tonnes of fresh and frozen Irish beef, which accounts for 73% of all their beef imports.
Overall, UK fresh and frozen beef imports were down by almost 1,000 tonnes to 20,492 tonnes, compared to April last year.
The most recent AHDB monthly data shows that the trend of Ireland’s share of UK beef imports falling from three quarters of the total or more to two thirds or less is continuing.
Winners and losers
The second largest supplier of UK fresh and frozen beef imports in April 2025 was Poland. The data also highlights that it has lost more market share than Ireland, with the volume in April down to 985 tonnes, compared to 2,167 tonnes in April last year.
While Ireland and Poland have been losing UK market share, Australia and New Zealand have been growing theirs.
New Zealand supplied 2,098 tonnes of UK imports in April this year, a big increase on the 825 tonnes supplied in the same month last year. Australia increased its share of the market from 642 tonnes to 1,616 tonnes over the same time period.
Australia and New Zealand have had tariff-free quotas for their beef, sheep meat and dairy exports to the UK since the middle of 2023, and this has greatly assisted them in growing their market share.
The other winner over the past year has been Brazil.
It doesn't have a specific trade agreement with the UK but succeeded in increasing their share of the UK imported beef market over the past year. In April it supplied 1,094 tonnes, up from 650 tonnes in the previous April.
Ireland has lost market share in the UK beef import trade. The tariff-free trade deals between the UK and Australia/New Zealand effectively gives them the same trading terms as Ireland and other EU countries.
There is, however, a second dimension to Ireland losing market share in the UK. In 2025, Ireland produced less beef, with 200,000 head fewer cattle processed. As reported in this week’s Irish Farmers Journal, the cattle kill is down by 93,000 head so far in 2026. There is, therefore, much less Irish beef overall available for the UK to import, and this adds to the opportunity for Australia and New Zealand to build market share.
While New Zealand is operating close to its UK quota for this year, Australia is nowhere near to filling its quota, but it is close to doing so in China.
Once that is filled, Australia may then target more beef exports towards the UK.
Brazil might do the same as it, too, has almost filled its 2026 beef quota for China.
It appears that strong competition for Irish beef in the UK market is here to stay.
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