DUBLIN: In spite of a disappointing 2015, Irish beef exports to the US could still reach the €100m mark in the foreseeable future, according to Bord Bia.
Irish beef exports to the US in 2015 were valued at about €11m, a far cry from the €50-100m value the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney had estimated for the year, following the announcement last February that Ireland would become the first and still only Member State of the EU to get US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) approval to export beef to the US.
The discrepancy has been attributed to the inability to date to export manufacturing Irish beef (mince) to the US. It is understood that impasse may end in the spring, once technical aspects of the import certificates have been resolved.
Whereas beef exports to the US last year was about 2,000t – less than 0.2% of our exports, Beef and Livestock Sector Manager at Bord Bia Joe Burke says that it is not inconceivable that we may reach 20,000t, which would be worth over €100m, within the foreseeable future – under the assumption that market conditions are favourable for us.
“I think volume-wise, there is definitely opportunity there. We are under a different volume category than the likes of Canada, New Zealand or Australia.”
Burke says the quota is for 65,000t for that category.
“We export about 270,000t of beef into the UK, for example, which is worth over €1 billion. But the more markets you have, the better – if it gives exporters more opportunities and avenues. It would mean more selling power for the product they are selling into the UK.”
