Data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows that wheat and barley imports are down on the same time last year, but imports of maize have increased.
The imports are mostly used for animal feed, with some used in the brewing and distilling industries.
AgriLand gives a breakdown of some of the main figures and where these products came from below.
Maize
Maize (not including sweetcorn, unmilled, other than seed) imports increased by 80,845t from September to October, bringing the total amount imported from January to October of this year to 1.277 million tonnes (latest figures).
This figure is almost 10,000t more than the same time in 2018 – a year of severe drought and feed shortages.
The figure is 423,704t ahead of 2017.
Data source: CSO
Maize from Northern Ireland and Great Britain
These imports came from a host of different countries, but there were a few major suppliers which are outlined below.
Likewise, 41,119t of maize were imported from Great Britain.
- Canada – 417,602t;
- Ukraine – 347,893t;
- Brazil – 262,186t;
- France – 66,019t;
- Northern Ireland – 79,748t;
- Great Britain – 41,119t;
- Russia – 31,792t.
Wheat
Wheat (other wheat including spelt and meslin, unmilled) imports decreased dramatically on the same time last year.
The amount of wheat imported from January to October in 2019 was 159,798t behind the same period in 2018 and 21,732t behind that time in 2017.
Data source: CSO
More than 50% of the wheat imported came from Great Britain – 120,287t. France accounted for 29,773t while other suppliers included: Northern Ireland (13,643t); Sweden (9,248t); and Denmark (7,056t).
Barley
Barley (unmilled) imports also saw a significant decrease from 2018. 115,050t of barley were imported in 2019 according to the CSO. That’s 216,622t behind the same period in 2018.
It is also 29,389t behind the same period in 2017.
Data source: CSO
The majority of this barley came from Great Britain – 94,954t, while Northern Ireland accounted for 14,680t. Ukraine was another supplier at 4,301t.