Irish food and drink exports have grown for the seventh year in a row, reaching €11.15bn in 2016.

Bord Bia figures show that food and drink exports have risen by 41% since 2010, an increase of €3.27bn.

Bord Bia’s Export Performance & Prospects 2016-2017 report, published on Wednesday, outlines a 2% growth in the Irish export trade to EU and international markets. Food and drink exports to the UK were worth €4.13bn last year, exports to other EU markets were worth €3.53bn and international markets accounted for €3.49bn.

The strongest export growth was seen in prepared foods, sheepmeat, beverages, pigmeat and dairy, while lower market demand and weaker prices hit edible horticulture, beef and seafood.

Sterling weakness and volatility took their toll on exports, reducing exports to the UK by 8% to €4.1bn and wiping an estimated €570m off export values last year.

Exports to other EU countries grew by 3%, mainly due to demand for beverages, seafood, prepared foods and meat.

International markets increased by 13% last year to almost €3.5bn, with increased exports to North America and China off-setting slower trade to the Middle East and China.

In the meat and livestock sector, a higher volume of product was offset by lower prices and a difficult trade, according to Bord Bia. A 5% increase in beef supplies offset a 6% fall in average prices.

Overall, Irish meat and livestock exports totalled €3.66bn, a fall of 2% year-on-year.

Bord Bia reported a mixed outlook for the meat and live exports sector in 2017, with a strong rise in cattle supplies likely to dampen the trade but broadly positive prospects for sheep and pigmeat exports.

On the dairy side, exports were 2% higher than 2016 at €3.38bn, driven by a 5% increase in milk output and a recovery in international demand in the second half.

The prospects for 2017 dairy exports are reasonably positive as global demand recovers, according to Bord Bia.

Listen to "Creed on markets in 2017" on Spreaker.