Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 22 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 6

Written Answers. - Beef Exports.

Matt Brennan

Question:

61 Mr. M. Brennan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the trend in Irish beef exports in 2000; the way in which this compares with the volume and value of exports in the same period for each of the years 1997, 1998 and 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17669/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

Up to date statistics for the value and volume of beef exports this year are not available yet. However, the figures for the period January-May for the years 1997, 1998, and 1999 are as follows:

Year	Volume(Tonnes c.w.e.)	Value(£m)
1997	183,344	217.9
1998	190,366	258.3
1999	259,310	334.1

In the absence of this year's data the best guide to measure trends in beef exports relative to previous years is to compare cattle slaughterings at export approved plants.

For the first five months in each of the last four years cattle slaughterings were as follows:

Year	Slaughterings
1997	734,909
1998	769,419
1999	829,671
2000	771,319

The decline in export slaughterings this year is due to a fall in supplies of cattle brought about by a combination of a fall of 5% in the national herd and increased live exports in recent years.

The outlook for this year is that beef exports will decline overall by about 7%, mainly to third country destinations, but EU markets are expected to increase marginally. This fall in beef exports will be somewhat offset by the expected increase in live cattle exports.