6.4 Key markets for Irish Agri-Food Exports

6.4 Key markets for Irish Agri-Food Exports

Irish agri-food exports were a record €19 billion in 2022, reaching over 180 destination countries. The United Kingdom was our largest trading partner with €6.8 billion, accounting for 36% agri-food exports in 2022. Exports to EU countries reached €6.6 billion last year, making up 35% of total agri-food exports, while Rest of World countries accounted for the remaining €5.6 billion or 30% of total agri-food exports.

United Kingdom – Number 1 Exports to the United Kingdom were made up of €4.7 billion to Great Britain and €2 billion to Northern Ireland. While exports to the UK have steadily increased in value over the past decade, the proportion of overall exports has been declining as exports to Rest of World countries has increased at a faster rate. In 2013, exports to the UK made up 44% of total agrifood exports, while in 2022, this has dropped to 36%.

With exports of €6.8 billion, and imports totalling €4.6 billion, Ireland has an agri-food trade surplus with the United Kingdom of approximately €2.2 billion in 2022, an increase of 11% on the surplus in 2021.

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Figure 6.7 Agri-food Exports by Region 2013-2022

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Source: CSO

Table 6.3 Agri-food Trade to the United Kingdom by Category 2022

UK GB NI Exports Exports Exports
	Exports		Exports		Exports
Category	€000	Tonnes	€000	Tonnes	€000	Tonnes
Beef	1,311,862	211,077	1,079,001	168,915	232,861	42,162
Dairy Produce	1,274,403	459,140	782,025	177,624	492,378	281,516
Forestry & Wood products	618,281	1,266,656	464,275	674,837	154,006	591,819
Cereal & cereal preparation	566,674	265,321	451,547	176,670	115,127	88,651
Animal Feed	456,449	830,081	196,288	178,029	260,161	652,053
Live Animals	417,629	59,887	274,794	4,746	142,835	55,141
Pigmeat	410,712	76,442	306,523	52,980	104,190	23,462
Beverages	372,017	571,582	242,874	375,688	129,143	195,894
Cofef e, Tea, Cocoa & Spices	268,545	50,149	233,286	46,012	35,259	4,137
Poultry	245,995	58,866	154,518	39,960	91,478	18,905
Miscellaneous Edible Products & Preparations	235,084	88,318	170,566	57,149	64,518	31,170
Fruit & Vegetables	165,933	91,148	111,822	51,174	54,111	39,974
Fruit & Vegetables Based Products	110,197	103,178	74,158	78,896	36,039	24,282
Fish	58,527	14,139	25,184	5,642	33,343	8,498
Sheepmeat	57,602	10,635	49,456	8,748	8,146	1,887
Crude Animal & Vegetable Material	55,239	98,922	39,672	27,540	15,567	71,383
Oils, Fats & Oleaginous Fruits	41,876	30,009	13,823	7,926	28,053	22,083
Sugar, Sugar Preparation & Honey	35,217	10,294	20,025	3,544	15,192	6,749
Egg	24,243	9,069	19,239	6,275	5,004	2,794
Other Meat & Meat Produce	22,150	3,534	19,372	3,023	2,778	511
Animal Skins & Furs	3,665	4,390	1,401	1,642	2,264	2,748
Wool, Flax & Cotot n	2,932	3,664	2,930	3,664	2	0
Grand Total	6,755,234	4,316,503	4,732,779	2,150,684	2,022,455	2,165,819

Source: CSO

United States – Number 2 The United States remained Ireland’s second largest destination for Ireland’s agri-food exports for 2022. The United States account for €1.7 billion of exports in 2022, an increase of 33% on the previous year. This significant increase in exports was largely due to Dairy Produce and Beverages, which grew by €230 million (+52%) and €172 million (+26%) respectively.

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Figure 6.8 Value of Agri- Food Exports to the United States by Year, 2013-2022

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Beverages was the largest category of product exported to the United States, increasing from €657 million to €829 million (+26%) in 2022. This increase of €172 million accounted for 40% of the €428 million increase in agri-food exports overall. Exports of Irish whisky increased from €441 million to €546 million (+24%) over the same period. Irish cream liqueur also increased significantly, from €135 million to €160 million (+18%).

Dairy Produce was the second largest category of exports to the US in 2022, increasing from €446 million to €676 million (+52%) on the previous year. This increase of €230 million accounted for 54% of the total increase in agri-food exports overall. The largest product exported within this category was natural butter, which increased from €192 million to €274 million (+42%).

Figure 6.9 Agri-Food Exports to the United States by Category 2022

n Beverages 48%

n Dairy produce 39%

n Coffee, tea, cocoa & spices 3%

n Live animals 2%

n Animal feed 2%

nOther 6%

Source: CSO

“ The United States remained Ireland’s second largest destination for Ireland’s agri-food exports for 2022. 195
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The Netherlands – Number 3 The Netherlands remained Ireland’s third largest destination for Irish agri-food exports, totalling €1.7 billion, in 2022. This was an increase of €389 million (+30%) in exports on 2021, with a €283 million increase in dairy produce representing 73% of the overall increase in agri-food exports to the Netherlands.

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Figure 6.10 Value of the Netherlands Agri-food Exports by Year, 2013-2022

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Source: CSO

Dairy produce was the largest product category exported to the Netherlands, with an increase from €737 million to over €1 billion (+38%) in 2022. The largest product exported within this category was natural butter, increasing from €310 million to €367 million (+18%) in 2022.

Beef was the second largest product category exported to the Netherlands in 2022, increasing from €207 million to €242 million (+17%). The largest individual product export within this category was ‘fresh or chilled bovine meat, boneless’, valued at €191 million in 2022.

Figure 6.11 Agri-Food Exports to the Netherlands by Category 2022

n Dairy produce 61%

n Beef 14%

n Coffee, tea, cocoa & spices 5%

n Oils, fats and oleaginous fruits 3%

n Forestry and wood products 3%

n Animal feed 3%

n Beverages 2%

nOther 9%

Source: CSO

Case Study

Japan

Japan is the world’s third largest economy and a regional leader in Asia, with an affluent population of 123 million people. It faces significant demographic challenges with 30% of the population aged 65 or older, and its population is predicted to decline from 123 million to 104 million by 2050. Economic ties between Ireland and Japan are strong due to Ireland’s membership of the EU, and the ongoing implementation of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement.

Japan is 35% to 40% self-sufficient in food. It is one of the largest importers of agri-food products globally and is the second largest meat importing country in the world. Irish Agrifood exports to Japan were up 18% to €214 million for 2022.

Figure 6.12 Agri-Food Exports to Japan, Value & Volume, 2013 -2022

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The profile of Irish agri-food exports by value is 42% dairy, 26% pigmeat, 14% beef, 8% fish and 5% beverages.

Dairy exports rose 30% to €90 million for 2022, consisting of 80% cheddar cheese - shredded for pizzas or for the production of processed cheeses. This is an important outlet as it reduces Ireland’s reliance on the UK, the traditional export market for Irish cheddar.

Pigmeat exports were up 12% to €56.5 million (9% in volume). Shipping time from Ireland takes 6 to 9 weeks so this is frozen bacon/pork and frozen ground pork. This is used in the restaurant trade or for incorporation into retail products.

Beef exports for 2022 increased in value by 10% to €30 million and are roughly half beef offal and half frozen beef. About €150,000 of fresh beef is flown in and mainly sold in high-end expat restaurants or through on-line retailers like Rakuten.

Beverage exports increased 27% to €11 million, continuing their post-pandemic recovery. The breakdown is approximately 40% whiskey, 40% liqueurs and 20% beers, with whiskey exports doubling year-on-year. Whiskey is an area for Irish expansion as Japan currently imports over €250 million of Scotch.

Fish exports rose to 8% to €18 million, exceeding pre-Pandemic levels. This consists mainly of mackerel imported for use in restaurants and retail, with some small amounts of shellfish.

Ireland had agri-food imports from Japan in 2022 of €4.4 million, up from €3.3 million in 2021. This comprises beverages, timber products and Japanese sauces and pastes.

Source: United Nations ESCAP, U.S. Department of Agriculture and CSO