The Irish beef sector’s vulnerability to a no-deal Brexit is underlined in a 5,218t increase in beef exports to the UK for the first six months of 2018.

Data published by the AHDB shows the total volume of beef exported recorded a 5.7% increase to reach 96,775t.

This follows a similar increase in exports of 4,577t in 2017, with a considerable percentage of the higher throughput stemming from dairy expansion finding a home in the UK.

Tom Forshaw, AHDB red meat analyst, says the increase in UK imports of Irish beef is also being influenced by Irish processors expanding their presence in the UK beef processing sector. Irish beef accounted for 71% of total UK beef imports.