As the UK General Election looms so the debate on the impact of Brexit on the UK economy is hitting the political headlines again.

At the end of May, Lord Offord, the Minister for Exports, published a letter sent to Tim Reid, CEO of UK Export Finance, in which he asks them to ‘reach more businesses’ and improve the way it reaches and ‘communicates its offer small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).’

Whilst, towards the end of June AHDB, who lead on opening UK new export markets for red meat will be hosting a conference at which a new ‘Blueprint for Exports’ will be launched to ‘encourage more UK agri-food businesses to export’.

Their Blueprint aims to encourage more businesses to ‘develop their export sales’ and to ‘champion the reputation of UK products overseas’ with insights into growing markets including Asia, the Americas and the Middle East’.

AIMS welcomes this initiative and know that through the work of Quality Meat Scotland’s director of market development, Tom Gibson that sales of the world class brands ‘Scotch Beef’ and ‘Scotch Lamb’ will continue to grow.

However, with the debate of the value of Exports to the EU post-Brexit being had, it is important to remember that this coincided with the Covid pandemic and the suspension of the out of home dining market.

That said, figures sent to me by QMS show that beef export sales volumes into the EU are estimated to have risen to 8100t in 2021/22 up from 7100t in 2019/20 (a 14.1% increase) generating just short of £50m suggesting that QMS’s relationship with EU markets are working well.

Markets for Scotch Beef in 2021/22 were Italy, France and the Netherlands with Belgium and Germany now also growing. As regards Scotch Lamb and offal, France and now Belgium are highly important markets accounting for 99% of export revenues.

HMRC figures for all red meat exports to the EU from the whole of the UK show a similar good news story with overall volumes up 38%.

In short, the market has moved on from combined factors of the short sharp shock of Brexit and the longer economic impact of Covid.

And whilst there is still an ‘unknown’ in relation to the impact that the on-going war in Ukraine might have, the figures for the EU are highly promising.

But what of the rest of the world?

QMS’s figures are amazing when you consider for non-EU Beef exports are reported to have risen strongly as the new markets in Asia and the Middle East, opened now the UK is no longer part of the EU, from 50t in 2019/20 to 750t in 2021/22.

Tom’s role ‘involves working collaboratively with the Scottish red meat industry to identify opportunities for the sector to maintain, build and access new market opportunities locally, nationally and internationally.’

Looking at what has been achieved and the potential that new markets in Asia, and particularly the high value markets in Singapore, Japan, and South Korea as well in the Middle East there is clearly a great opportunity for the ‘truly world class brands’ of Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb to excel.

Is there more to be done? Of course. The fasted growing ‘brand’ in the world is ‘Halal’. The Australians and the New Zealanders both market their products as Australian Lamb and Australian Halal Lamb and New Zealand Lamb and New Zealand Halal Lamb depending on the markets they are supplying.

I am sure that Scotland’s new First Minister, Rt. Hon. Hamza Yousaf, a proud Scot, and a Muslim, fully understands the value of Scotland’s farmers to the country’s economy and no doubt welcomes QMS’s work into his Government’s ‘Team Scotland’ approach to drive international trade. And no doubt can open doors for high quality, high welfare, sustainably farmed Scotch Halal Lamb and yes, Scotch Halal Beef and even Scotch Halal Veal (a huge opportunity) into ‘Halal Brand’ markets across the globe.

And, as Tom says he’s ‘keen to forge new partnership with retailers, the food service industry, suppliers, and exporters to showcase our exceptional products’ and I am sure that Scotland’s new Government and farmers will be encouraging him to continue delivering on what have been great export numbers during a period of huge economic challenges.