6.7 Agri- Food Imports

6.7 Agri- Food Imports

Agri-food sector imports accounted for 9% of Ireland’s total imports in 2022. Over the period 2013-2022, imports have increased from €7.6 billion to €12.6 billion (+66%). This represented the highest value of imports ever, an increase of 23% on the previous high of €10.25 billion in 2020 and up 26% on the 2021 value of €10.02 billion. The top five agri-food categories by value accounted for 53% of total agri-food sector imports in 2022, totalling over €6.6 billion.

Figure 6.15 Agri-food Imports by Category, 2022

n Animal feed 18%

n Dairy produce 10%

n Beverages 9%

n Cereal & cereal preparations

8%

n Fruit & vegetables 7%

n Forestry & wood products

7%

n Coffee, tea, cocoa & spices

6%

n Misc edible products &

preparations 6%

nPoultry 5%

n Oils, fats & oleaginous fruits

4%

n Fruit & vegetables based

products 4%

n Other 16%

Source: CSO

The significant increase in the value of agri-food imports over the past year was largely attributable to:

Animal feed imports increased by €732 million (+47%) to €2.3 billion. M

Dairy produce imports increased by €325 million (+37%) to €1.2 billion. M

Oils, fats and oleaginous fruits imports increased by €192 million (+54%) to €545 million. M

Cereals & cereal preparations imports increased by €186 million (+22%) to €1.0 billion. M

Beverages imports increased by €172 million (+17%) to €1.2 billion. M

Poultry imports increased by €171 million (+45%) to €555 million. M

There was a decrease in the value of only one agri-food import product category. Live animal imports decreased by €3 million (-1%) to €325 million in 2022.

Given the volatility in prices over the past year, the significant increase in the value (26%) of agri-food imports should be considered in the context of the more modest increase in import volumes (8%) Table 6.7 below.

Table 6.7 Value and Volume of Agri-food Imports by Category, 2021-2022

2021 2022 2021 v 2022
Category	€000	Tonnes	€000	Tonnes	€000	Tonnes
Animal Feed	1,574,361	5,152,202	2,306,685	5,940,422	47%	15%
Dairy Produce	878,456	848,530	1,203,746	948,931	37%	12%
Beverages	1,005,362	990,489	1,177,102	1,000,081	17%	1%
Cereal & cereal preparation	850,834	592,232	1,036,735	670,608	22%	13%
Fruit & Vegetables	824,727	701,460	918,305	705,125	11%	1%
Forestry & Wood products	738,783	1,107,505	866,058	896,556	17%	-19%
Cofef e, Tea, Cocoa & Spices	607,154	109,719	704,390	122,086	16%	11%
Miscellaneous Edible Products & Preparations	583,492	209,081	699,932	228,920	20%	9%
Poultry	383,501	114,343	554,543	139,760	45%	22%
Oils, Fats & Oleaginous Fruits	353,380	322,837	544,970	341,464	54%	6%
Fruit & Vegetables Based Products	445,092	300,194	544,450	324,490	22%	8%
Sugar, Sugar Preparation & Honey	322,929	321,364	389,688	350,281	21%	9%
Pigmeat	303,833	82,481	333,192	85,402	10%	4%
Crude Animal & Vegetable Material	300,702	213,984	331,113	216,112	10%	1%
Live Animals	328,212	14,058	324,791	12,919	-1%	-8%
Fish	268,820	93,191	311,505	71,397	16%	-23%
Beef	158,234	35,071	188,622	36,864	19%	5%
Sheepmeat	43,544	6,528	58,676	9,054	35%	39%
Egg	19,081	6,154	40,731	16,597	113%	170%
Wool, Flax & Cotot n	18,056	3,862	24,330	4,800	35%	24%
Other Meat & Meat Produce	8,825	4,744	13,209	4,520	50%	-5%
Animal Skins & Furs	3,128	182	4,180	795	34%	338%
Grand Total	10,020,508	11,230,209	12,576,953	12,127,184	26%	8%

Source: CSO