Meat Industry Ireland (MII), the body representing the primary meat processing sector, has welcomed the Bord Bia Export Performance and Prospects report, which found that the value of Irish food and drink exports hit €17 billion in 2024.
MII said the report, which was released this week, shows “continued strong performances” of the Irish meat industry.
The organisation said the Irish meat industry experienced a robust performance in 2024, and that global demand for beef imports is expected to increase further in 2025.
The report found that the value of Irish meat and livestock imports increased by 6% in 2024 over the 2023 figure, to €4.3 billion.
This increase was driven by higher volumes and higher unit prices.
Beef exports, including offals, account for 68% of all meat livestock exports and the value of these products accounted for €2.8 billion of agri-food exports, a 6% increase on 2023.
In 2024, the value of primary pigmeat exports grew by an estimated 7% to €490 million, with production expected to recover further in 2025, MII said.
However, Irish sheepmeat exports had a more challenging year, and saw a 6% decline in value to €400 million, primarily due to product availability and challenging weather conditions during the lamb breeding season.
Commenting on these figures, Dale Crammond, director of MII, said: “In the face of a challenging global market, the Irish meat industry has performed exceptionally well in 2024.
“While beef exports remain incredibly strong, I was particularly pleased to see that the value of primary pigmeat exports increased by 7% to €490 million, rebounding strongly from a decline in 2023,” Crammond added.
The MII said he expects a rise in global demand for the meat sector in the coming year.
“Our members, despite some obvious challenges, are preparing to meet consumer demands in Ireland and overseas.
“As an industry, working with our farmer suppliers, we will continue to deliver high-quality products to international markets and further advance sustainability measures across the supply chain,” Crammond said.