Food Industry

Thursday, 1 June 2023

Questions (270)

Alan Dillon

Question:

270. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the exact quantity of imported beef that has entered the Irish market in each of the past four months to date; the breakdown of the top five countries, and their respective quantities for this timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26845/23]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The volume of beef imports for 2022 and 2023 was revised down following an error identified by the CSO. The amended data requested by the Deputy is provided below. There have also been slight changes to the methodology used to compile the data. In the original reply only the first three months data was available, the full four months requested is provided below.

The volume of beef recorded as imported into Ireland was 2,847 tonnes in January, 2,973 tonnes in February, 2,685 tonnes in March, and 2,730 tonnes in April. These 11,235 tonnes of beef imports are in the context of 153,846 tonnes of beef exports over the same period.

The top 5 countries from which beef was imported into Ireland over the first four months of the year were the United Kingdom (9,545 tonnes), Spain (594 tonnes), the Netherlands (326 tonnes), Denmark (154 tonnes) and Germany (135 tonnes).

A summary of the data, broken down by month as requested, and showing the top five countries of origin, is provided below.

		Jan-23		Feb-23		Mar-23		Apr-23		Jan to Apr-23
	Exports	Imports	Exports	Imports	Exports	Imports	Exports	Imports	Exports	Imports
Country	Tonnes	Tonnes	Tonnes	Tonnes	Tonnes	Tonnes	Tonnes	Tonnes	Tonnes	Tonnes
United Kingdom	17,248	2,485	17,068	2,577	19,131	2,132	15,528	2,132	68,974	9,545
Spain	649	150	791	162	972	201	651	201	3,064	594
Netherlands	2,749	63	2,517	66	3,030	65	2,287	65	10,584	326
Denmark	623	5	551	39	1,092	105	586	105	2,853	154
Germany	1,913	5	2,013	35	2,185	68	1,302	68	7,412	135
Other Countries	13,989	140	15,101	94	17,786	113	14,082	113	60,959	481
Grand Total	37,171	2,847	38,041	2,973	44,197	2,685	34,436	2,685	153,846	11,235

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the data contained within, in view of the volume of statistical data collected as part of agrifood trade statistics, some errors in respect of individual products may occur. Where these anomalies are identified, my Department will liaise with the CSO to highlight and amend the information as required.