UK beef exports have recorded a drop of 10.6% in 2015 from the previous year, driven by the strength of sterling last year. Tonnage exported was 100,364 compared with 112,260t the previous year, according to LMC in Northern Ireland.

With 40% of UK beef exports shipped to the Republic of Ireland and 92% of beef exports sold to EU member states, it highlights the reliance of the UK’s agri-food sector on the eurozone ahead of the Brexit referendum.

The majority of UK exports to ROI were cattle originally sourced in Ireland for direct slaughter and then shipped back in carcase form.

There has been a sizeable switch in the UK processing sector from exporting beef in full carcase form to selling higher-value prime cuts.

At almost €5,400/t for prime cuts compared to €2,300/t for carcase beef, prime-cut exports have increased from 40% to 60%.