SCOTTISH MEAT has played a significant part in the country's record year of food and drink export growth – thanks mainly to demand from the EU.

New figures released by the Scottish Government showed that overall food and drink exports from Scotland grew by £421 million in 2016, to a record £5.5 billion, representing an 8% increase in the value of exports to the sector.

In the meat category as a whole, Scotland increased exports by 11% to £72 million, of which 90% was to Europe.

Quality Meat Scotland has been working hard to promote the Protected Geographical Indication status of Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb at key overseas food events, and highlight the guarantees of quality assurance, provenance and welfare that underpin those PGI brands.

QMS head of marketing, Laurent Vernet, said that a recent industry survey showed that Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb's key markets in 2016 were France and the Benelux countries, which took 67.8% of beef and lamb exports from Scotland.

Alongside that, the Scottish red meat industry’s exports to Germany increased by 23% during the year, and exports to the Nordic countries, Poland and Baltic countries, and other central and eastern European countries rose by 19%, 197% and 444%, respectively in 2016.

By comparison, exports outside of the EU, mainly to South Africa, Hong Kong and Thailand, represented 5.4% of total Scottish red meat exports.

“The export figures published by the Scottish Government are encouraging and show there are still substantial opportunities for the Scottish red meat industry to develop and grow business inside and outside of the EU,” said Mr Vernet.

“We have also been working hard with other trade partners such as Scotland Food and Drink, Scottish Development International and the UK Export Certificate Partnership to open key markets such as the US, China and Japan which offer exciting opportunities for the future.”