The value of food and live animal exports stood at €8.2 billion in the first six months of 2025, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

This marks a significant increase of almost €1.2 billion (14%) on the same period last year when such exports were worth €7.1 billion.

The latest data shows that food and live animal exports were valued at €1.5 billion in June 2025, compared to €1.27 billion in the same month last year.

In the first half (H1) of 2025, meat and meat preparations exports were worth €2.7 billion, up from €2.3 billion in the corresponding period last year.

Dairy products and birds' eggs exports were valued at €2.3 billion (H1 2024: €1.75 billion), while cereals and cereal preparations decreased in value from €431 million to €388 million.

For the first six months of the year, €3.2 billion worth of food and live animals was exported to the EU, €2.3 billion to Britain, €1 billion to Northern Ireland, €446 million to the US, €248 million to China, and €1 billion to the rest of the world.

The CSO figures show that imports of food and live animals into Ireland were valued at just over €895 million in June, up from €817 million in the same month last year.

From January to June 2024, these imports were valued at €5.48 billion, compared with €5 billion in the corresponding period last year.

Up to the end of June this year, imports of cereals and cereal preparations were recorded at €984 million, up from €889 million in the same six-month period last year.

Imports of vegetables and fruits were valued at €978 million in the period (H1 2024: €952 million), while imports of feeding stuff for animals (excluding milled cereals) were similar to the same level as last year at €623 million.

Meat and meat preparations imports up to the end of June were valued at €668 million (H1 2024: €581 million) and dairy products and birds' eggs imports were valued at €639 million (H1 2024: €543 million).

By the end of June, €2.1 billion worth of food and live animals was imported into Ireland from the EU, €1.3 billion from Britain, €869 million from Northern Ireland, €162 million from the US, €81 million from China, and €923 million from the rest of the world.

Commenting on the data, Jane Burmanje, statistician in the CSO International Trade in Goods Division said:

"While the value of goods imports grew by €649.2 million (+5.6%) to €12.3 billion compared with June 2024 (€11.6 billion).

"The unadjusted exports for April, May, and June (Q2) 2025 were valued at €63.1 billion, down €26.1 billion (-29.2%) on Q1 2025 (€89.2 billion)."

The statistician noted however, that unadjusted exports of goods in Q2 2025 were up €9 billion (+16.5%) compared with Q2 2024 (€54.2 billion).

"Exports to the US fell by almost a quarter in June 2025, falling by €1.3 billion (-23.4%) to €4.4 billion compared with June 2024 (€5.7 billion)," she added

"Exports of goods to the US fell by €6.4 billion (-59.6%) in June 2025 (€4.4 billion) compared with May 2025 (€10.8 billion)."

Meanwhile, exports to Britain increased by €141.6 million (+12.8%) to €1.24 billion in June 2025 compared with June 2024 (€1.10 billion).