January food and animal exports increase by €100m year-on-year
The value of food and live animal exports from Ireland in January 2025 was over €100 million higher than the same month of 2024.
Figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that the value of exported food and live animals from Ireland in January 2025 came to €1.155 billion, an increase of around €103 million on the January 2024 figure of €1.052 billion.
This increase includes higher export value figures in both the meat and meat preparations category and the dairy and bird's eggs category.
The export value figure for food and live animals includes 10 sub categories, as follows:
| Product type | January 2024 | January 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Live animals | €39 million | €40 million |
| Meat and meat preparations | €363 million | €381 million |
| Dairy and eggs | €214 million | €287 million |
| Fish and other seafood | €39 million | €35 million |
| Cereals and cereal preparations | €94 million | €59 million |
| Fruit and vegetables | €30 million | €35 million |
| Sugar and honey | €16 million | €15 million |
| Coffee, tea and cocoa | €41 million | €48 million |
| Animal feed | €51 million | €52 million |
| Miscellaneous edible products | €166 million | €203 million |
The value of food and live animals imported to Ireland also increased year-on-year. In January 2025, this figure was around €880.6 million.
This is an increase of around €80 million on the January 2024 figure of €800.4 million.
Across the 10 categories, the value of live animal imports to Ireland increased from €14 million to €25 million from January 2024 to January 2025, while the value of meat and meat preparation imports increased from €92 million to €105 million.
The value of imports in the dairy and bird's eggs category increased from €81 million to €94 million.
Of the 10 categories, only animal feed saw a decrease in the import value.
In terms of export destinations and import sources, both figures increased for food and live animals in respect of Britain (not including Northern Ireland).
The value of food and live animals exported to Britain from Ireland in January 2025 was €335 million, up from €306 million in January 2024; while the value of imports from Britain increased to €222 million in January 2025, from €190 million 12 months earlier.
Food and live animal exports to Northern Ireland decreased in January 2025 compared to January 2024, falling from €165 million to €147 million; while on the imports side, the value increased from €106 million to €125 million.
Food and live animal exports to the EU increased in value in January this year to €405 million, from €317 million 12 months earlier; while imports from the EU into Ireland fell slightly from €351 million to €349 million.
For to the US market, Ireland exported €69 million worth of food and live animals in January, up from €66 million 12 months earlier; while imports to Ireland from that market were worth €30 million, up from €28 million 12 months earlier.
Turning to China, Irish exports destined for the Asian country also increased in January this year, to €38 million compared to €28 million in January 2024; while imports to Ireland increased to €15 million from €8 million.
Finally, for the rest of the world, exports decreased in January 2025 to €161 million, compared to €170 million in January 2024; while imports increased from €117 million to €140 million.
