Bord Bia is seeing strong growth potential in China for adult nutrition, high-protein foods, and value-added dairy products, Shane Hamill, director of global business development at Bord Bia has said.

Hamill said this “presents real commercial opportunities for Irish dairy, meat, and seafood exporters”.

This week Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries, Timmy Dooley, is leading an agri food trade mission to China with Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland.

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Hamill said Bord Bia’s focus on the trade mission is to connect Irish suppliers directly with key Chinese buyers and distributors, positioning Ireland as a reliable source of safe, high-quality, and sustainably produced food.

“We’re also taking the opportunity to gain deeper insights into China’s rapidly evolving retail and e-commerce sectors, which are central to how premium food is now being sold and consumed.

"By strengthening these commercial relationships, we’re helping Irish exporters to grow in one of the world’s most dynamic and competitive markets.”

High quality

The focus of the trade mission is to showcase Ireland as a source of high quality agri food produce to the Chinese market. In 2024, Irish agri food exports to China were valued at €614m. However, Irish beef has been locked out of the Chinese market since October of last year.

The trade mission will include government-to-government meetings, a series of trade events and seminars and a number of customer meetings.

Commenting, Minister Dooley, said this is the third Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine trade mission to China in as many years, “which underlines the importance the Irish Government places on our trading relationship with China”.

“I look forward to engaging with my Chinese counterparts during this trade mission to help create more opportunities for Irish agri food companies to expand further into the Chinese market,” he said.