Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 February 2022
467. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total value of Irish exports of dairy, beef, lamb, pig meat and poultry to European Union and or non-European Union countries in each of the past five years to date; the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the viability of these sectors in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7347/22]
View answerExport value figures for full year 2021 will be available from the CSO later this month and the full data set as requested will be forwarded to the Deputy once available.
With regard to the prospects for the sectors referenced, the following should be noted:
Up to the end of November, the CSO reported a reduction in the value of dairy exports of €119m (2.5%) and a reduction in the volume of exports of 100,081 tonnes (6.4%) compared to 2020. Irish dairy produce reached 147 markets in 2021, with destinations outside of the EU and UK exceeding 50% of all exports for the first time. CSO data shows milk production up to the end of November at 8.03bn litres, a 5.9% increase compared to 2020. The annual average milk price for 2021 is estimated to have risen by 16% to 40.6 cent per litre (vat incl. actual fat and protein). The long-term fundamentals of the global dairy market are strong, with growing global demand projected.
While slaughter levels were slightly down for both beef and sheep in 2021, prices were significantly up on the previous year. Both sectors also saw an increase in the value of exports.
For beef, the total annual slaughter figure at the end of 2021 was 1.66 million head which represents a 5% decrease on 2020 levels of 1.75 million head. This was in line with the projection of tightening supplies at the start of year. The average 2021 R3 Steer price of 407.95c/kg was 12.5% above the 2020 average price of 362.71c/kg. CSO data to the end of November 2021 shows an increase in value of beef exports by 5.7% (compared to the same period in 2020) to €2.1 billion in spite of a reduction in volume of 11.7% in the same period. This growth was underpinned by sustained strong demand in the UK and the EU. Teagasc forecast that EU beef supply will decline in 2022 and that UK supply will remain unchanged. The outlook for Irish beef exports to EU27 and the UK remains generally positive for 2022 according to Bord Bia. Global market demand seems set to remain good as global supplies look to be tight as result of pressure on output from both North and South America.
For sheep, total slaughtering for 2021 was 5% down on 2020 at 2,720,467 head. The average 2021 price of 664.49c/kg was 28% above the 2020 average price of 519.27c/kg. Tighter global and EU supplies of sheepmeat, combined with firm demand, resulted in a positive market for Irish sheepmeat during 2021. According to CSO data, the value of sheepmeat exports increased strongly for the second consecutive year, rising by 7.4% (compared to the same period in 2020) in the period up to the end of November to reach €347 million. This was despite a drop of 9.8% in export volumes over the same period. The reduced availability of imported sheepmeat on the EU market, due to a reduction in UK production, had a positive impact on the demand and opportunities for Irish sheepmeat. Tighter global supplies of sheepmeat and the redistribution of global supplies have helped drive higher export values for Irish exporters and these trends seem set to continue in 2022.
For the pig sector, 2021 saw an increase in throughput levels on 2020 of 3%, with the total pigs slaughtered for the year, coming in at just over 3.6 million head (3,615,320). Over the past five year period there has been growth of 11.5% in production, equalling 374,138 pigs. According to data supplied by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as of November 2021 YTD there has been an increase of 4.8% in exports over 2020 in value terms (+€38.8m) and an increase of 5.7% in volume, coming in at an estimated €845.7 million and 264,869 tonnes respectively. However, the average price for 2021 is 8.7% lower than 2020. While prices were at a historical high coming into 2020, the average 2021 price is marginally lower than that of the 5-year average price of 157.51 €/100kg. This reduction in price has occurred in tandem with an increase in input costs causing serious difficulty for the sector. My officials are continuing to monitor the current market situation and are exploring all potential options available at EU and national level to assist in supporting Irish pig farmers through this significant market disturbance.
Irish poultry meat throughput in 2021 was slightly down on 2020 (-1.1%), coming in 110,426,601 birds slaughtered, of which 90.4% were chickens. Prices for poultry meat have remained stable and prices at end of December 2021 for poultry meat were €2.18 per kg, a 5c/kg increase on the same period of 2020. As of November 2021 YTD, there is a decrease in exports of 5.2% on 2020 in value terms and 30.4% in volume coming in at €208.9 million and 84,522 tonnes respectively. 2021 exports were impacted by both Avian Influenza outbreaks and COVID-19 restrictions. The outlook for poultry meats is positive on both EU and global markets.
