6.8 Agri-Food Imports by Country

6.8 Agri-Food Imports by Country

In 2022, agri-food goods were imported into Ireland from over 180 countries worldwide. Ireland’s top five import countries were the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, France and the United States, which accounted for 65% or €8.2 billion of Ireland’s total imports for the year.

Figure 6.16 Top 10 Agri-Food Imports by Country 2022

n United Kingdom 36%

n The Netherlands 11%

n Germany 7%

n France 6%

n United States 5%

n Belgium 3%

n Argentina 3%

n Spain 3%

n Poland 3%

n Brazil 3%

n Italy 2%

n Other 18%

Source: CSO

The United Kingdom is Ireland’s largest import partner, accounting for 36% of agri-food imports and a total value of €4.6 billion in 2022. This was made up of imports of €2.7 billion from Great Britain and €1.9 billion from Northern Ireland. Imports of €4.6 billion from the UK represents an increase of €709 million (+18%) on 2021.

Dairy Produce was the largest product category imported into Ireland from the UK in 2022, valued at €676 million. This represented an increase of €206 million (+44%) on the previous year. Cereal and cereal preparations was the second largest product category, increasing by €73 million (+14%) to €608 million.

Ireland imported agri-food to the value of €1.4 billion from the Netherlands in 2022, our second largest imports market, an increase of €230 million (+20%) on the previous year. The largest product category from the Netherlands was oils, fats, and oleaginous fruits, which increased by €54 million (+38%) to €198 million last year. This was followed by poultry, of which imports increased by €45 million (+40%) to €157 million.

Germany, as the third largest source of imports, accounted for €902 million or 7% of Ireland’s total agri-food imports. The largest product category imported from Germany was dairy produce, which increased by €73 million (+82%) to €162 million in 2022. The second largest product category imported was fruit and vegetables, which were valued at €129 million last year.

Table 6.8 Value and Volume of Agri-food Imports by Top 20 Locations, 2021 - 2022

2021 2022 2021 v 2022
Category	€000	Tonnes	€000	Tonnes	€000	Tonnes
United Kingdom	3,859,986	3,683,704	4,568,583	3,989,590	18%	8%
Netherlands	1,148,726	861,906	1,379,159	842,026	20%	-2%
Germany	657,737	444,242	902,244	460,646	37%	4%
France	574,000	713,979	714,050	754,091	24%	6%
United States	418,324	833,711	617,828	1,048,242	48%	26%
Belgium	311,217	288,611	406,430	299,300	31%	4%
Argentina	236,599	725,181	393,700	964,913	66%	33%
Spain	303,854	239,708	361,082	234,206	19%	-2%
Poland	254,303	224,870	360,899	203,732	42%	-9%
Brazil	125,355	275,642	296,755	572,692	137%	108%
Italy	228,221	123,977	267,631	132,139	17%	7%
Canada	184,868	624,739	240,805	647,527	30%	4%
China	160,070	59,846	220,777	64,655	38%	8%
Denmark	137,813	130,782	134,915	112,262	-2%	-14%
Malaysia	89,981	93,265	115,919	65,729	29%	-30%
Thailand	57,474	20,807	93,318	22,628	62%	9%
India	60,309	91,183	74,783	51,504	24%	-44%
Austria	55,427	20,002	72,933	34,889	32%	74%
Switzerland	56,323	9,278	72,513	14,742	29%	59%
Chile	58,240	23,526	72,334	25,257	24%	7%
Top 20 Total	8,978,828	9,488,959	11,366,659	10,540,771	27%	11%

Source: CSO

Figure from page 214

Figure from page 215