Imports of beef into the EU were over 35,000t in January 2018, the highest level in recent years and almost 10,000t higher than January 2016 levels. Brazil is the largest supplier of beef to the EU, sending 11,000t in January followed by Uruguay on 7,000t.

These are broadly in line with January 2017 supplies from these countries with the big increases coming from Argentina and Australia. Argentina shipped 5,716t in January 2018 compared with 3,819 t in January 2017, while Australia sent 4,197t in January 2018 compared with 2,526 the previous January.

EU exports

The EU is actually a bigger exporter of beef and offal than importer. In January, 50,140t of beef and cattle were exported from the EU with Turkey the largest market taking 5,000t, most of which was live cattle.

Hong Kong with 5,000t is the next most important export market for the EU, followed by Ghana on 3,100t and the Ivory Coast at 3,000t. EU exports tend to be cattle in the case of Turkey and Middle Eastern markets, with lower value cuts and offal going to other African and Asian markets.

Irish exports

There was no major change in Irish beef and offal exports in January with the UK taking almost 21,000t of the 47,000t exported in January. France remains our second most important market taking 5,264t and the Netherlands took 3,325t. Sweden is the highest-priced cattle country in the EU and has been a strong buyer of Irish beef, taking 2,117t while recent strong farm gate cattle prices in Italy has meant a resurgence in that market for Irish beef with over 2,000t exported in January.

Non-EU markets

Hong Kong and the Philippines remain the largest non-EU markets for Irish beef and offal exports with 1,534t and 1,480t going to each respectively. The USA which received a ministerial visit to promote Irish agri-food products last month, bought just 144t of Irish beef in January and remains a market waiting to take off.