The UK imported 38,189 tonnes of beef from Ireland in the first quarter of 2026, which is 6,673 tonnes less than in the same period last year.

Total UK beef imports for the period were 59,344 tonnes which is an increase of over 1,000 tonnes compared with last year.

As Figure 1 shows, while UK beef imports from Ireland have declined, other countries have significantly increased their share of the market.

Ireland remains the biggest supplier by a distance but as figure 2 shows, the share is now around two thirds whereas previously it was three quarters or higher.

The latest set of AHDB data shows that the trend which began in the middle of last year, is continuing.

Irish beef available for export declined in 2025 as 200,000 head fewer cattle were processed.

Beef production was also in decline across the EU and in the UK and this trend has continued into 2026.

The UK is the world’s fifth largest beef-importing country, and with less beef available in Europe, importers have looked elsewhere to exporting countries from the southern hemisphere.

The opportunity in the UK has also coincided with Brazil and Australia, the world’s two largest beef exporting countries, having record volumes of beef available for export.

Australia and New Zealand have had the additional benefit of a trade deal in place with the UK which gives them tariff-free access under generous quotas.

These are being phased in with annual increases and in 2026 is 60,000 tonnes for Australia and 21,000 tonnes for New Zealand which they are likely to fill this year.

While Australia and Brazil both increased their share of the UK beef import market in the first quarter, it is the performance of New Zealand that is the most eye catching.

That country supplied six times more beef to the UK in the first quarter of this year than they did in 2025.

In the same period, Australia more than doubled its share of UK beef imports to 4,102 tonnes, but this lags considerably behind the 7,694 tonnes supplied by New Zealand.

The other big “winner” in Q1 was Brazil who succeeded in more than doubling their share of the UK beef import market to 3,427 tonnes, and that is without a trade deal!

After Ireland, Poland had been the second-largest supplier of UK beef imports until recently; they have now fallen to fifth place.

While Irish cattle price in the first quarter of this year fell by more than €1/kg, it is still well ahead of the farm gate price of cattle in southern hemisphere countries.

Brazil has the lowest prices cattle among the major beef exporting countries at the equivalent of €3.92/kg for animals that would be comparable to an R3 steer.

In Australia the price is the equivalent of €4.57/kg while in New Zealand it is slightly higher at the equivalent of €4.75 according to Farmers Weekly.

Historically, cattle prices in Poland were much lower than in Ireland but over the past couple of years the gap has closed and indeed there are occasions when the Polish R3 young bull price is ahead of the Irish R3 steer price.

As well as the trade deal and a lower cattle price, New Zealand has a further advantage in the UK market.

They have been a major supplier of UK sheep meat imports for over a century and we can see in Figure 3 that they were the dominant player in the market during quarter one this year supplying 9,842 tonnes though Australia have increased their share to 5,367 tonnes.

New Zealand have a large tariff-free UK quota for sheep meat whereas Australia didn’t have a meaningful quota before the UK Australia trade deal which came into effect in 2023.

They have had to build market share which they have been doing successfully.

New Zealand’s presence in the UK through sheep means that they have a long-established customer network in the red meat market and there is considerable overlap between customers who buy beef and sheep meat.

In addition to this head start, the New Zealand customer network in the UK has been further enhanced by Dawn meats taking control of the Alliance factories in New Zealand.

While Alliance had their own customer base in the UK, Dawn has a huge presence in the market and no doubt the link up will have opened more doors for New Zealand product.

Over the past decade the Polish beef presence in the UK had grown to the point where they were the second largest supplier after Ireland.

While they are the second-largest beef exporter in the EU after Ireland, no doubt the establishment of ABP in the Polish processing industry will have opened customers doors in the UK.

It should be noted that while other countries have increased their market share over recent months, Irish beef remains the preferred option for the majority of UK beef importers.

The commitment of the three largest supermarkets: Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda to selling exclusively UK and Irish beef is key to maintaining the presence of Irish beef in the highest value segment of the UK market.

While beef from other countries may be cheaper, the reality is that for “just in time” distribution systems that are operated by UK supermarkets, Irish beef supplies fit into this seamlessly because of our geographical location.

Furthermore, the fact that the major processors that supply them operate in both the UK and Ireland also assists with distribution in a way that is not available to countries that require several weeks to deliver with sea freight.

Also, as Irish beef prices have fallen, Australia, Brazil and New Zealand have increased and don’t have the big price advantage they had this time last year.

We can therefore be confident that Irish beef exports to the UK will not collapse now or at any point in the foreseeable future.

However, we should be equally aware that competition for Irish beef in the UK is here to stay from Australia and New Zealand in particular and Brazil to a slightly lesser extent.

At present all these countries are focused on supplying China ahead of their quotas being exhausted at some point in the second half of the year and the US where there is record demand for imported beef.

When the China quota for Brazil and Australia is filled, any extra beef they supply will carry and additional 55% tariff and at this point the UK will become an attractive alternative.

The timing could also coincide with New Zealand having filled its UK quota for this year.

The final point to consider is that even if Irish beef holds all or most of its market share, importers will no doubt use price quotes from suppliers in other countries in their negotiation.

Competition for Irish beef in the UK market will be at its greatest since the UK joined the EEC in 1973, something that has been a reality for sheep meat exporters throughout the period with the preferential access New Zealand has enjoyed to the UK market.