Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:95 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the major growth areas for export of dairy produce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30374/01]
Written Answers. - Dairy Exports.
Ireland continues to export the vast bulk of its milk products into the EU internal market and I do not envisage any change in this trend in the foreseeable future. The principal markets within the EU are the UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and France, while Belgium and Italy are also valuable markets for Irish products. On the international front Ireland has developed a range of valuable export markets, chief amongst these being in Asia and Latin America, with the US being the principal third country destination for casein and caseinates. With the expected continued growth in the world dairy trade, with dairy product consumption forecast to grow by 2% per annum between now and 2006, significant growth is expected in Asia, Latin America and possibly central and eastern Europe. The Irish dairy industry is well positioned to take advantage of this expected growth in the world dairy trade.