AMSTERDAM: Live cattle exports from the Republic of Ireland are continuing their recent downward trend, according to the latest figures published by Bord Bia.
This year has seen a 26.6% reduction in overall live exports for the week ending October 15, a drop of 41,089 head of cattle on the same period in 2015. The main driver of this fall has been the drop in exports to Northern Ireland where trade has reduced by over half (54.1%) when compared with 2015.
In an overall context this drop of 22,933 head of cattle to the North accounts for 55.8% of the total reduction. The drop can be attributed to the recent volatility of the British pound, which currently stands at 89p to the euro.
Along with the drop in Sterling, Bord Bia has previously noted that UK beef production is increasing this year while the UK consumer preference for other sources of protein is becoming more pronounced.
