Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 December 2013
436. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the key sectors of the agriculture or food industries that are contributing the most to export growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52926/13]
View answerThe agri-food sector plays a very significant role in national economic development. It currently accounts for 7.1% of national gross value-added and 8.6% of employment. Between 2008 and 2012, the sector’s contribution to national GVA rose from 6.1% to 7.1%.
However, these figures, significant as they are, may actually underestimate the importance of the sector to national economic development. The Deputy should be aware that more than 75% of the expenditure in this sector is on Irish goods and services, compared to 42% for all manufacturing. In addition it has a lower import content and a lower level of profit repatriation than other manufacturing industries. In fact every €100 of exports from the bio-sector (agriculture, forestry, fisheries, food & drink industries) contributes around €48 to GNP while the ‘non bio-sector’ contributes around €19.
Last year, Irish food and drink exports exceeded €9 billion for the first time. This trend is continuing, with the latest CSO figures showing a 6.7% rise in agri-food exports in the first three-quarters of 2013, as compared to the same period in 2012.
The table below outlines the performance of total exports attributed to each sector of the agri-food industry, compared to the baseline figures from Food Harvest 2020.
Export Performance in the Agri-food Sector
|
Products |
€m |
€m |
- |
|
FH2020 Baseline (2007 to 2009 avg) |
2012 |
Difference 2012/baseline |
|
|
€m |
€m |
% Change |
|
|
Dairy Products & Ingredients |
2,201 |
2,620 |
+19% |
|
Beef |
1,529 |
1,900 |
+24% |
|
Prepared Foods |
1,533 |
1,424 |
-7% |
|
Beverages |
1,238 |
1,255 |
+1% |
|
Pigmeat |
339 |
507 |
+49% |
|
Seafood |
342 |
501 |
+46% |
|
Edible Horticulture & Cereals |
238 |
227 |
-5% |
|
Poultry |
211 |
221 |
+5% |
|
Sheepmeat |
171 |
212 |
+24% |
|
Live Animals |
177 |
217 |
+23% |
|
Total Food & Drinks |
7,979 |
9,084 |
+14% |
Source: Bord Bia
