UK exports get beef and beer lift

The beef ban was introduced in 1996 to prevent the spread of BSE

UK food and drink exports climbed to a record in 2006, the first time they have hit such levels since the BSE crisis hurt beef sales in the 1990s.

Exports totalled £10.5bn last year, topping the previous pre-BSE record of £10.1bn set in 1996, according to a report by Food from Britain (FFB).

Drinks and meat led the rise in exports, while Ireland and France were the largest markets for British goods.

Beef sales surged 321% to £80.1m, while exports of British beer rose 21.2%.

FFB said that certain brands were proving particularly strong in export market, including Tyrells crisps, Twinings tea, Weetabix, Patak's, Walker's Shortbread and Quorn.

TOP TEN UK FOOD & DRINK EXPORT MARKETS 2006 1. Ireland - £1,993bn 2. France - £1,373bn 3. US - £901.3m 4. Spain - £725.8m 5. Germany - £607.9m 6. Netherlands - £513.6m 7. Italy - £387.5m 8. Belgium - £318.3m 9. Canada - £166.5m 10. Greece - £158.8m Source: Food from Britain

Exports to the European Union made up 68.8% of all overseas food and drink sales, with Poland and Estonia seeing the biggest growth in demand for UK produce.

The total drink market rose 7.4% on 2005, with whisky being by far the biggest export - accounting for about a quarter of all sales, with a value of £2.526bn.

Beef returns

Meat exports climbed by 4% to $746m, with lamb making up the largest share of that by value.

WHO BUYS WHAT? Tea: Canada (21.1%) Beer: France (41.4%) Whisky: US (16.5%) Cheese: Ireland (34%) (Figure is % of total UK export of product going to country) Source: HM Customs and Excise

However, it was the bounce back of demand for beef, after a 10-year-export ban was lifted, that grabbed analysts' attention.

"As British beef finally returns to overseas menus, we have seen our food and drink exports reach an all time high," said FFB chief executive David McNair.

"This heralds the end of a difficult decade, which we emerge stronger from, and with a solid and more diverse platform for future growth," he added.

But he warned that competition from other export giants such as France, Germany and the US was fierce.

BIGGEST FOOD AND DRINK EXPORTS 2006 1. Whisky - £2,526m 2. Meat - £764.6m 3. Beer - £402m 4. Chocolate confectionary - £390m 5. Breakfast cereal - £312.7m Source: Food from Britain

"We need to recognise exporting as a strategic route to long-term growth and benefit from such experience to allow us to compete more effectively both at home and abroad," Mr McNair said.