DUBLIN: Irish food and drink exports rose by 4 percent to €10.5 billion in 2014, equating to a record €200 million per week. Irish food exported to countries and regions outside the EU, most notably China and North America.
According to Bord Bia’s latest Export Performance and Prospects report, food and drink exports rose by 4 per cent to €10.5 billion last year – equating to a record €200 million per week.
This represents an expansion of 45 per cent or €3.2 billion since 2009.
The strongest performing sectors were dairy product and ingredients which rose 3 per cent to exceed the €3 billion mark for the first time.
Prepared food export increased by 8 per cent to €1.8 billion; seafood exports also rose 8 per cent to €540 million.
Significantly, most of the growth occurred outside of Europe, including an almost 40 per cent increase in food exports to China to to reach approximately €520 million.
Overall, the value of exports to Asia jumped 45 per cent to reach €850 million. There were also increases in exports to North America (€740 million, +18 per cent), the Middle East (€330 million, +11 per cent) and Africa (€610 million, +9 per cent).
While it remains Ireland’s most significant export market, the share of exports destined for the UK eased slightly though the value showed little change at €4.2 billion, representing 40 per cent of total food and drink exports.
Nonetheless, Bord Bia chief executive Aidan Cotter said there had been a significant shift in the destinations for Irish exports in 2014 with international markets showing renewed growth, reflected in a 15 per cent increase in trade to stand at €3 billion or 29 per cent of total food and drink exports.
“The industry’s drive to broaden export reach to destinations outside of the EU is paying dividends with growth in emerging and international markets now driving export figures, offsetting the limited growth in our established premium EU markets” he said.
