Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2017
473. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of new markets identified for Irish food exporters in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41942/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe past two years has seen great strides taken in regard to the opening of new markets and the deepening of trade for existing markets for Irish Agri food exporters.
In 2015, we gained access to the US market for Irish beef. In the same year, we also got access to the Canadian market for Irish beef and 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 exports of beef from Ireland and we got access to the Chilean market for Irish pork.
On the dairy front, Ireland exported in the region of €4 billion in dairy products to approaching 130 countries in 2016. Against the backdrop of EU agreed trade deals, such as those completed with Canada and Japan, which will obviously have benefit for 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 trade missions at Ministerial level. In addition, against the background of Brexit, I have asked Bord Bia to conduct market profiling exercise to identify opportunities in new and more mature markets, and the output of this exercise will provide valuable market intelligence both for industry operators and policy makers.
CSO data for the year to end June showed that Irish dairy exports were approaching 20% ahead of the same period in 2016, on foot of factors such as improving global prices, particularly evident in sectors such as butter, but also increases in volumes exported also across a range of product categories. This demonstrates that our aforementioned efforts are contributing positively to Irish dairy sector exports.
This however does not reflect the increased growth in exports to the following markets:
The value of exports to emerging markets in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Central/South America stood at almost €2.2 billion in 2016. The value of trade to these markets increased by 52% in the period 2012 to 2016. Exports to these markets now account for 19% of total food and drink exports compared to 16% in 2012. This growth in share of exports occurred during a period when total food and drink exports jumped by more than 23%.
Growth to emerging markets has been led by Asia, with trade growing by more than 150% to €1.2 billion, and led by China, which recorded a more than three-fold increase (total €880 million v. €283 million in 2012). Exports to other Asian markets grew by 73% in the same period to €318 million.
Trade to Africa has maintained around the €500 million during this period notwithstanding the challenges faced by those West African countries whose economies are so reliant on a strong international oil price. Encouragingly, exports to North African countries grew by just under 50% in five years helping to counterbalance this impact.
Exports to the Middle East grew by 21%, to €370 million.
The pursuit and development of new markets for Irish agrifood exports is of course an ongoing and central component of the strategic development of the agrifood sector, as evidenced by its placement right at the centre of Food Wise 2025, the industry’s strategy for development over the coming decade. Food Wise 2025 outlines the huge potential for growth in agrifood exports to new and emerging markets, particularly in Asia, Africa and the Gulf region. This is where our efforts will be focused for the foreseeable future, particularly given the need to diversify our markets and to reduce our reliance on traditional destinations such as the UK.
In keeping with the priorities outlined in Food Wise 2025, I and Minister of State, Deputy Andrew Doyle, led trade missions to China, Singapore, Vietnam and South Korea in September 2016. In November 2016, I also led a trade mission to Morocco, which was extended at senior official level to include Algeria. Earlier in 2016, senior officials accompanied a Bord Bia trade mission to Iran and travelled on to Turkey and met with officials to discuss trade of live animals.
In February 2017, I also led a very successful Trade Mission to the Gulf Region. This covered the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Most recently, in June of this year I led an extensive Trade Mission to the US and Mexico. Both markets offer many aspects that are very attractive to Irish exporters. The US is the largest food and beverage market in the world and has a population of 324 million people. Around 35 million Americans also claim Irish ancestry. Mexico has a population of 127 million, making it the eleventh-largest country in the world in population terms and the fifteenth-largest economy in the world, with projections that it will move into the top five by 2050.
My Department is currently making arrangements with Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland for a trade mission to Japan and South Korea in November. Again, this will include participants from across the agrifood 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 agrifood sector.
This and the other missions that my Department are planning for 2017 and early 2018 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. 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.
I also recently announced additional market access resources in my Department in order to further support its efforts to increase the Irish footprint globally.
