China is New Zealand's main destination for red meat, while the UK market is down 11% due to uncertainty about Brexit.

New Zealand is increasing meat exports to China, which is currently the main destination for sheep meat and beef, according to a recent analysis by the Meat Industry Association.

The export of meat from New Zealand for the year to June 2019 increased by $ 8.8 billion, and most of the product goes to China.

In June, beef exports to China increased to more than 25 thousand tons, which exceeds annual exports to Taiwan, Japan or Korea. At the same time, the export of sheep meat to this country increased by 20% compared with the same month last year.

“China has taken over half of New Zealand sheep’s meat exports, and beef exports have grown 79% in volume, ahead of the US, which is our largest beef market,” said Tim Ritchie, executive director of the Meat Industry Association (MIA).

In June, China was recognized as the largest value market for red meat and related products with an export volume of $ 319 million, followed by the United States and Great Britain. Red meat exports to the UK market fell by 11% in June due to uncertainties about Brexit and market access in the near future.