In recent years, the focus of the Irish beef industry has been to broaden and expand its market reach at EU retail level, shifting its orientation away from international commodity markets and into the higher priced internal EU marketplace. Effective promotion and marketing of beef by Bord Bia and the industry has ensured a presence for top quality Irish beef in all the key European markets. This includes supply arrangements with multiples and the main retailers in the UK, France, Italy and the Netherlands. The following table shows Irish beef exports to EU markets in thousands of tonnes for the last five years.
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
France
|
40
|
13
|
16
|
20
|
24
|
Italy
|
30
|
11
|
22
|
35
|
40
|
Netherlands
|
30
|
26
|
30
|
39
|
41
|
UK
|
110
|
220
|
245
|
251
|
264
|
Other EU
|
35
|
22
|
42
|
68
|
69
|
Total EU
|
245
|
292
|
355
|
413
|
438
|