BRITISH MEAT IMPORTS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27404, 17 July 1954, Page 7

BRITISH MEAT IMPORTS

EXPECTED DECREASE FOR 1954 (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, July 16. It seems likely that imports of meat into Britain this year may be slightly lower than in 1953 since recipts from Australia and Uruguay are expected to fall heavily off-setting a prospective increase from New Zealand and Argentina, says the Commonwealth Economic Committee in its monthly intelligence bulletin. It says Russia may be the world’s second biggest importer to Britain this year, taking about 70,000 tons, of which Uruguay will supply about 30,000 tons. After Uruguay has completed its commitments to other markets such as Brazil, there may be only a small quantity available for export to Britain. The bulletin also says production of all classes of meat except bacon and ham in Britain for January to April of this year was substantially higher than for the same period in 1953. Pork output increased by 48 per cent. On the other hand total imports of meat into Britain in the period January to May was 9 per cent, less than the same period of last year. Judged by present conditions the total supplies of carcase meat except bacon and hams and offal in Britain in the second half of 1954, are likely to be somewhat greater than last year. An expected increase in home production should be more than sufficient to off-set any slight decline in imports.