Slightly higher prices and more output from the main livestock sectors in NI helped make 2018 a record year for turnover in local food and drink processing.
Results published by DAERA last week show turnover increased 7.4% to stand at nearly £5.2bn.
While employee numbers in food processing are unchanged on the previous year at 23,625, they are still 25% higher than in 2000.
The largest sub-sector is beef and sheepmeat, with total turnover in 2018 up 9.5% to £1.44bn
Over a quarter of manufacturing jobs in NI are in food and drink processing, and the sector accounts for over one-third of all NI manufacturing sales.
The largest sub-sector is beef and sheepmeat, with total turnover in 2018 up 9.5% to £1.44bn. Following that is dairy, with turnover at £1.14bn, and poultry at £745m.
Destination
The figures from DAERA also show where sales from each of the sub-sectors ended up in 2018.
Across the entire industry, Britain is our largest market, taking 50.7% of all sales, up from 49.5% in 2017.
The home market is next, accounting for 22.7% of sales, with the Republic of Ireland (ROI) taking 15.3%, and the rest of the EU at 8.6%.
However, some sub-sectors are more reliant on the market in Britain than others.
In beef and sheep, 72% of sales are to Britain, with only 15% going to the EU (including ROI).
By contrast, in the dairy sector, Britain accounts for 36% of sales, with the EU at 37%.
ROW
That leaves export sales outside of the EU. While much has been made of the opportunities that might exist after Brexit, the industry in NI is starting from a very low base. Only 2.8% of sales were to the Rest of the World (ROW) in 2017, and this fell to 2.6% in 2018.
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Slightly higher prices and more output from the main livestock sectors in NI helped make 2018 a record year for turnover in local food and drink processing.
Results published by DAERA last week show turnover increased 7.4% to stand at nearly £5.2bn.
While employee numbers in food processing are unchanged on the previous year at 23,625, they are still 25% higher than in 2000.
The largest sub-sector is beef and sheepmeat, with total turnover in 2018 up 9.5% to £1.44bn
Over a quarter of manufacturing jobs in NI are in food and drink processing, and the sector accounts for over one-third of all NI manufacturing sales.
The largest sub-sector is beef and sheepmeat, with total turnover in 2018 up 9.5% to £1.44bn. Following that is dairy, with turnover at £1.14bn, and poultry at £745m.
Destination
The figures from DAERA also show where sales from each of the sub-sectors ended up in 2018.
Across the entire industry, Britain is our largest market, taking 50.7% of all sales, up from 49.5% in 2017.
The home market is next, accounting for 22.7% of sales, with the Republic of Ireland (ROI) taking 15.3%, and the rest of the EU at 8.6%.
However, some sub-sectors are more reliant on the market in Britain than others.
In beef and sheep, 72% of sales are to Britain, with only 15% going to the EU (including ROI).
By contrast, in the dairy sector, Britain accounts for 36% of sales, with the EU at 37%.
ROW
That leaves export sales outside of the EU. While much has been made of the opportunities that might exist after Brexit, the industry in NI is starting from a very low base. Only 2.8% of sales were to the Rest of the World (ROW) in 2017, and this fell to 2.6% in 2018.
Read more
Poots sets out new 'green growth' plan
DAERA top official apologies for briefing blunder
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