It is clear that the first lockdown earlier in the year led to a major drop-off in Irish beef exports, given the temporary closure of the food service sector across Europe.

Data from Bord Bia and the Central Statistics Office (CSO) for the first eight months of this year demonstrate just how stark this drop-off was, with value and volume of our beef exports to EU countries decreasing by as mush as 20%, or even higher in some cases.

That was the first lockdown. Now, a number of European countries, including France and the UK, have re-entered lockdown situations, which has renewed fears of another drastic fall in exports.

However, according to the chairperson of the National Livestock Committee of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), the situation is not quite so pessimistic this time around.

Speaking to AgriLand, Brendan Golden said that the figures for January to August this year reflect the height of the first lockdown, when “everything was gone”, referring to the food service industry in Ireland and across Europe.

“So the figures add-up,” he noted.

The Bord Bia / CSO figures, outlined in the table below, demonstrate the losses in Ireland’s exports this year (to August), in terms of both value and volume.

Data source: Bord Bia/CSO

Data source: Bord Bia / CSO

As can be seen, export value and volume decreased to Ireland’s key export partners in Europe, with value of exports back 5.1% to Britain and 3.9% to the UK (including Northern Ireland); 11.8% to France; 8.3% to Germany; 13.9% to Italy; and 21.4% to Spain.

Similar reductions are also demonstrated in terms of volume where these export destinations are concerned.

Despite the somewhat depressing figures, there’s reason to believe that these trends will not be repeated, according to Golden.

You would hope the dynamic is different this time. Fast food outlets and some takeaways are still operating, so you would be hoping it would not be exactly the same this time around.

“When you see those figures, it’s not a pretty picture… But takeaways and fast foods coming back on stream helped a lot. We would be hoping it wouldn’t be as bleak.”

The IFA national livestock chairperson also noted that retail figures in the UK were up in recent weeks, and Irish farmers “should be seeing some of that coming our way”.

“We’ve come through a tough year. There’s no point being too negative. Christmas should provide a boost, and a deal on Brexit, if it comes, will give a clearer path going forward,” Golden remarked.