Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2009
532 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the Irish exported pigmeat cuts and imported pigmeat cuts; the value of Irish exported pigmeat cuts and imported pigmeat cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37135/09]
View answer533 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the Irish exported beef cuts and imported beef cuts; the value of Irish exported beef cuts and imported beef cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37136/09]
View answer534 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the Irish exported sheep meat cuts and imported sheep meat cuts; the value of Irish exported sheep meat cuts and imported sheep meat cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37137/09]
View answer535 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the Irish exported poultry cuts and imported poultry cuts; the value of Irish exported poultry cuts and imported poultry cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37138/09]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 532 to 535, inclusive, together.
The following table sets out both the volume and value of exports and imports for beef, pigmeat, poultry, and sheepmeat for the full year 2008.
|
Exports (2008) |
Imports (2008) |
|||
|
Metric tonnes |
€m. |
Metric tonnes |
€m. |
|
|
Beef |
433,960 |
1,636.3 |
33,773 |
113.5 |
|
Pigmeat |
127,956 |
349.4 |
75,668 |
239.1 |
|
Poultry |
98,965 |
201.1 |
76,398 |
277.9 |
|
Sheep meat |
44,525 |
163.5 |
2,927 |
14.2 |
Source: CSO.
Together with live exports, the value of Irish meat and livestock exports amounted to approximately €2.6 billion in 2008. Almost all of our beef exports are to the high-value European market, while the UK is the largest source of imported product. With regard to pigmeat, the UK is the largest single destination, with trade to the rest of Europe and international markets holding steady. Virtually all our imports come from within the EU with the UK providing the largest share. France accounts for over half of Irish sheepmeat exports with trade in boneless cuts continuing to grow, while our imports are primarily from the UK and New Zealand. Much of our poultry exports are in the form of processed product to the UK with third country markets providing important outlets for specific cuts. EU Member States supply the majority of imports with approximately one-fifth coming from third countries such as Brazil and Thailand.
