Ireland’s food and drink industry demonstrated resilience last year, with exports to the UK climbing 7% to a record €5.9bn.
Despite the economic and political turmoil of recent years, the latest ‘Export Performance and Prospects’ report from Bord Bia highlights the “strong and enduring” trade relationship between Ireland and the UK.
Overall, global exports of Irish food, drink, and horticulture grew by 5% to €17bn in 2024 amid geo-political instability, fluctuating inflation, and ongoing high trading costs.
The UK remains the largest single destination for Irish food and drink exports. In 2024, the UK’s share of these exports is estimated to have increased by one percentage point to almost 35%.
Sector Highlights within UK Exports:
- Packaged Consumer Foods (PCF): The top-performing category, PCF exports climbed 11% to €2.3bn, reflecting the sector’s market appeal and levels of innovation.
- Meat (beef, beef offal, pigmeat, poultry, and sheepmeat): Meat exports, led by beef, increased by 5%, standing at €1.3bn. Pigmeat exports rose 11% to €150m, and poultry climbed 16% to €83m. The UK continued to be the strongest market for Irish beef, with increases in demand for steaks, roasts and mince.
- Dairy: Valued at €1.05bn (+1%), dairy exports continued to demonstrate stability and strong demand in the UK.
- Drinks: Exported drinks rose 3% to €331m, driven by growth in the ready-to-drink and Whiskey categories.
- Horticulture: Steady growth saw horticulture exports increase by 2% to €296m, primarily driven by mushroom exports.
- Seafood: Exports grew by 18% to €87m, driven by increasing UK demand for premium products.
Donal Denvir, Bord Bia’s Director UK, commented: “This success highlights the quality and diversity of Irish products that UK customers and consumers trust and value. This is a remarkable achievement when we consider the ongoing challenges facing global trade, including climate change, sustained high prices, and geo-political uncertainty.
“The growth in exports, despite these challenging conditions, underscores the strong trade relationship between Ireland and the UK and highlights the quality of Irish products that UK consumers highly value. This would not be achievable without the dedication and output of our farmers, fishers, innovative processors and other food and drink producers who play a crucial role in our sector.”
NAM Implications:
- Given the UK’s 35% of Ireland’s food & drinks exports…
- …a detailed analysis of this comprehensive Bord Bia report has to be worth while.
