With less than 10 months till Brexit, Bord Bia has launched a new report that identifies and analyses the top 15 growth markets for Irish food and drink exports.

The report, ‘Prioritising Markets: Opportunities for Growth’, looks at potential global markets for meat, dairy, prepared consumer food, beverage and seafoods over the next five to 10 years.

The value of Irish dairy exports has increased by 11%

It was commissioned by the Department of Agriculture and coordinated by Bord Bia.

“Over the last six years, the value of Irish dairy exports has increased by 11%, the value of our beef exports by almost 50%, cereals and cereal preparations by 59%, seafood and seafood exports by 50%, forestry exports doubled from €112million to €226 million and sheepmeat exports increased by 70%,” Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed stated.

“Notwithstanding this significant success, we must, in the light of Brexit, intensify our efforts further to diversify those international markets that offer the best potential for growth.”

Bord Bia now intends to undertake further analysis on five markets across Asia and Mexico on behalf of the Irish beef industry.

Uncertainty that persists around Brexit

Over the last number of years China has become Ireland’s second biggest importer of dairy and pork products, with high hopes with the recent announcement that Irish beef will soon be exported in similarly high volumes to the Asian market.

“Today’s reports provide Irish food and drink manufacturers with substantial data and insight with which to prepare a strategic approach to international export markets,” Bord Bia CEO Tara McCarthy said.

“In the context of the uncertainty that persists around Brexit, this is, above all, a positive assertion of the long-term possibilities for our industry.”