The value of food and live animal exports from Ireland stood at over €10.7 billion in the first eight months of the year, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

This is down by around €270 million when compared to January to August 2025 when more than €11 billion was exported in food and live animals.

During August 2026, these exports were valued at €1.4 billion, which is an increase on the same month last year (August 2025: €1.34 billion).

Food and live animals

The data shows that between January and August 2026, €4 billion worth of food and live animals was exported to the EU.

€2.8 billion of these exports went to Britain, €1.4 billion to Northern Ireland, €654 million to the US, €185 million to China, and €1.64 billion to the rest of the world.

Up to the end of August, meat and meat preparations exports were worth €3.5 billion, down slightly on the corresponding period last year.

Exports of dairy products and birds' eggs were valued at €3.1 billion (down from €3.2 billion), while cereals and cereal preparations rose in value from €518 million to €537 million in the eight-month period.

Imports

The CSO data shows that imports of food and live animals into Ireland were valued at €6.9 billion by the end of August 2026. This is down from €7.4 billion in the same period last year.

In August 2026, imports of food and live animals were worth €849 million, down from €925 million in the same month in 2025.

Over the eight months, imports of cereals and cereal preparations were recorded at €1.23 billion, up from nearly €1.3 billion last year.

Imports of vegetables and fruits decreased in value at €1.25 billion in the period, while imports of feeding stuff for animals (excluding milled cereals) dropped from €843 million to €831 million.

Meat and meat preparations imports up to the end of August were valued at €908 million (similar to last year), while dairy products and birds' eggs imports were valued at €692 million, compared to €866 million last year.

Up to the end of August, €2.9 billion worth of food and live animals was imported into Ireland from the EU, €1.6 billion from Britain, €996 million from Northern Ireland.

For the same period, €247 million worth of food and live animals was imported from the US, €102 million from China, and €1.1 billion from the rest of the world.