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Chinese inspectors are in Ireland this week and next to visit 16 beef and sheepmeat processing facilities seeking approval for the export of Irish meat to China.
Seven beef factories – ABP Nenagh and Clones; Kepak Clonee; Foyle Donegal; Liffey Meats, Slaney; and Dawn Charleville; are already approved and between them exported just over 3,000t of frozen beef in the first half of 2019.
Factories have been concerned that the inspections could be impeded by protesters and sought High Court injunctions to restrain protesters from blockading factories.
Currently, the Chinese market is only available for frozen beef from cattle under 30 months.
If these additional beef and sheep processing factories are approved, it will mean that most Irish beef processors will be able to trade with China and lamb exports can begin.
Chinese importers buy a range of Irish forequarter cuts where Irish prices are as competitive as any global supplier and it is expected Irish beef exports to China will surge with further factory approvals. China beef imports jumped from 298,000t in 2014 to just over one million tonnes in 2018 and for the first half of this year, imports were up a further 66% to 683,000t on the same period in 2018.
Export meat factory
Two Chinese investors based in Dublin are also seeking planning permission to build a new export meat factory at Banagher, Co Offaly. On completion, the plant will initially slaughter up to 140 cattle per day and will export the beef to China and other Asian markets. Further expansion is planned.
The two investors are Jianwei Wang and Li Wang. They set up a company named Banagher Chilling Ltd in 2017 and purchased an existing abattoir and adjoining land outside the town.
The firm submitted a planning application to Offaly County Council last month and may receive approval on Thursday.
The existing abattoir at Boheradurrow and Meenwaun, on the Cloghan side of Banagher, has been in use since 1991 but is currently not operating.
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