The pursuit and development of new markets for Irish agri-food exports is an ongoing and central component of the strategic development of the agri-food 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 agri-food exports to new and emerging markets, particularly in Asia, Africa, the Americas 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 overall terms, agri-food exports to countries outside the EU have increased from around €2.7 billion to €3.6 billion in the period 2014 to 2018. This represents very rapid growth of 36% in that four-year timeframe. Among the highlights in 2018, the Chinese authorities opened their market to Irish beef imports by listing several approved Irish beef establishments, and agreements were reached with Qatar and Kuwait, allowing for the importation of Irish beef, sheepmeat and poultry to their markets.
In 2019, the Ukrainian market was opened for Irish beef and pork in April, while in May, the under-30 months restriction on Irish beef exports to Japan was lifted. This was followed in June by an agreement in principle on access for Irish sheepmeat to the Japanese market.
In addition, and against the backdrop of EU-agreed trade deals such as those completed with Canada, Japan and Mexico, my Department continues its efforts to open new markets while further deepening trade with existing markets. Trade Missions play an important role in this work, and in this regard I have visited Turkey, China, Japan and South Korea in 2019, with further missions planned before the end of the year. The choice of destinations are in keeping with the market prioritisation exercise that was completed by Bord Bia in December 2017, at my request. This exercise identified opportunities in new and more mature markets, and will provide valuable market intelligence both for industry operators and policy makers as we continue to navigate the very uncertain environment created by Brexit.
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.
