Ramped up prices in response to cost pressures and inflation helped to drive Ireland’s global food and drink export values to new heights, Bord Bia’s Export Performance and Prospect Report shows.
Key export countries included the EU, where sales increased 4% to €5.9bn, with the EU now accounting for 25% of all Irish food, drink and horticulture exports.
France, Germany and Belgium accounted for 40% of exports, with values up 5%, 12% and 12% respectively.
The UK remains Ireland’s largest single export market for food, drink and horticulture exports, with values up 7% to €5.9bn.
Ireland’s biggest export markets
Total share of exports to the UK stands a near 35%, though this is lower than before Brexit.
International exports rose 5% to €5.2bn, driven by increased trade with North America (+14%) to €2bn. Sales to Asia were mixed, with a decline in pork (-12%), driven by difficulties trading with China. Exports to Africa were up 10% to €950m.
Though economic pressures helped to drive up values, volumes also ticked up across several of the country’s key categories, including seafood, prepared consumer foods, meat and livestock.
Ireland’s core export category, dairy, remained stable with €6.3bn of exports, despite poor weather in 2024 affecting grass quality.
Meat and livestock exports rose 6% to €4.3bn, thanks to higher volumes and values across beef, pork and livestock.
Ireland’s biggest food and drink exports
Prepared consumer foods' value rose 7% to €3.4bn, seafood 9% to €595m and cereal & horticulture by 4% to €325m.
Drink export values also rose 19% to €2.1bn, with ready-to-drink a hero category tripling in value to €235m. Whiskey exports were up 13% to €1bn.
“Add to this the value of non-edible products and Irish agri-food exports are in the region of €19 billion, a figure approaching a 5% increase on 2023," said Charlie McConalogue, Ireland’s minister for agriculture, food and the marine.
There is general optimism among Ireland’s food and drink businesses, with over 66% expecting further export growths across the European and UK markets.
“The robust performance and sustained success of the Irish agri-food sector is a testament to the industry’s focus on strategic market diversification, investment in sustainable practices, and commitment to world-class quality and traceability standards, evident throughout the supply chain,” said Jim O’Toole, Bord Bia chief executive.