Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 July 2018
546. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department continue to make preparations to capitalise on Brexit, with particular reference to the opening up of new opportunities for Irish food production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31838/18]
View answerThe pursuit and development of new markets for Irish agri-food exports is of course an ongoing and central component of the strategic development of the agri-food sector, as evidenced by its placement right at the centre of Food Wise 2025, the industry’s strategy for development over the coming decade. Indeed, this is all the more relevant after the UK’s decision to leave the EU, which presents significant new challenges for the agri-food sector in particular.
Food Wise 2025 outlines the huge potential for growth in agri-food exports to new and emerging markets, particularly in Asia, Africa, the Americas and the Gulf region. Indeed, significant steps forward have been taken in opening new markets and in developing trade in existing markets for Irish agri-food exporters in the last three years alone.
In 2015 we gained access to the US and Canadian markets for Irish beef. In the same year we also attained access to the Omani market for Irish beef and sheepmeat.
In 2016 we gained access to the Maldives for beef, sheepmeat, pigmeat and poultrymeat. We also gained access to the Iranian market for sheepmeat, and we regained access to the Israeli market for beef.
In 2017, the market in Egypt was re-opened to Irish beef and we got access to the Chilean market for Irish pork.
And, of course, the news that we had achieved access to the hugely important Chinese market for beef in April 2018 was most welcome. Consumer demand for premium imported beef is forecast to rise significantly, driven by increasing urbanisation, higher disposable incomes and health awareness. The import of frozen boneless beef, the category for which Ireland will have market access, has grown nine-fold within the last five years.
On the dairy front, Ireland exported over €4.5billion in dairy products to nearly 130 countries in 2017. Against the backdrop of EU-agreed trade deals such as those completed with Canada and Japan, which will benefit the sector, my Department continues to prioritise efforts to gain access to new third country markets and, equally importantly, to deepen existing markets for Irish dairy products. In many instances such efforts are on foot of Ministerial led trade missions.
More generally, the value of exports to emerging markets in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Central/South America stood at almost €2.8 billion in 2017. The value of trade to these markets has increased by 159% since 2009, and now accounts for over 20% of total agri-food exports. This growth has been led by Asia, with exports of €1.6 billion in 2017, of which around €1 billion went to China. Exports to other Asian markets grew by 85% since 2012 to €659 million in 2017.
Trade to Africa has also grown to €606 million, while exports to the Middle East have also grown significantly.
From a practical perspective, my Department and its agencies have a strong global footprint which is primarily aimed at facilitating growth in the trade of agri-food products with countries around the world.
For example, my Department maintains a network of agriculture attachés which is increasingly focused on countries with whom we are seeking to further develop our trading links, such as the United States, the Gulf Region and China. We also work closely with Bord Bia in developing international markets through its network of offices around the world, which it has recently expanded to include a presence in Singapore and in Warsaw. We work very effectively together, and with the relevant authorities, in progressing market access issues and organising trade missions aimed at promoting and supporting the export of Irish agri-food products.
The role of trade missions cannot be underestimated. I led a series of very successful trade missions in 2017. Destinations included the Gulf States, US, Mexico, Japan and South Korea. In the case of the latter two, this was an ideal opportunity to exploit the benefits to be derived from the EU's recent trade and economic partnership agreements with South Korea and Japan.
This work has continued in 2018. I have already led trade missions to the US, Canada and China, and my Department is currently making arrangements with Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland for a further trade mission in the last quarter of 2018 to Indonesia and Malaysia. Again this will include participants from across the agri-food sector and will feature extensive trade contacts as well as high-level political discussions. Both of these markets had been identified by my Department as offering huge potential to the Irish agri-food sector.
These and the other missions that my Department are planning will serve to enhance and improve our existing levels of market access in these destinations. It will also promote Ireland’s reputation as a producer of high quality, safe and sustainably produced meat and dairy products. The destinations are also in keeping with the recent market profiling exercise that was completed by Bord Bia at my request. This exercise identified opportunities in new and more mature markets, and will provide valuable market intelligence both for industry operators and policy makers.
My Department will continue to seek out and identify new markets, and I am ready to respond as appropriate to other opportunities that may arise.
