Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2021
614. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which Irish food markets have been affected by Brexit in the past year, with particular reference to beef, lamb, poultry or dairy products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62453/21]
View answerThe latest CSO trade statistics data for the end of the third quarter, show that 2021 has been a period of value growth for Irish food exports.
In the first three quarters of 2021 the value of agri-food exports were up €711 million or 6.8% on the same period in 2020 and up €446m or 4.2% on the same period in 2019.
Dairy produce, beef and beverages constitute the most valuable commodity categories accounting for €6.6 billion, or 59% of the total value of agri-food exports in the period January to September 2021.
At €1.7 billion, the total value of beef exports is virtually unchanged for the January to September period in the years 2019 to 2021. The total value of dairy exports exhibited more variation but has, nevertheless, averaged €3.8 billion during the same timeframe.
Irish sheep meat, which is traditionally less reliant than other meat species on the UK market, is having another consecutive year of significant growth. According to the CSO, the value of Irish sheep meat exports for the first three quarters of 2021 were up almost €15 million, or 6%, on the same period in 2020 and nearly €50 million, or 20%, on 2019.
Focusing on specific product category developments in the UK market, the overall trend over the last three years is a gradual shift away from reliance on that market for the four main meat species and dairy produce.
Nevertheless, overall exports of Irish agri-food products to the UK have recovered compared to earlier in the year and are up for the first three quarters of the year by €421m, or 11.3%, compared to 2020. They are up €171m, or 4.3 %, compared to 2019.
In conclusion, it is too soon to make definite judgements on how Irish agri-food exports have been affected by Brexit as distinct from the pandemic and other factors influencing international trade patterns.
