Poultry production in the Republic of Ireland is thought to have contracted slightly last year, reports the country’s Bord Bia. Over the first 10 months of the year, the number of birds processed fell by 2 percent, compared to the corresponding period in 2013, to 64.3 million.
Retail sales of poultry, however, increased by 8 percent to 41,000 metric tons during the 52 weeks ending December 7, 2014.
Imports of poultry meat rose by over 40 percent over the first nine months of the year, however, some imports are processed and then re-exported, Bord Bia notes.
The first nine months of the year also saw the country’s exports increase, up by 22 percent to 85,000 tonnes. Around three-quarters of Irish exports are destined for the U.K. market, with a high proportion of these then being redirected to other markets. Poultry shipments to the U.K. grew by around 28 percent during the period, however, strong growth in shipments to South Africa and Germany were also recorded.
For 2014 as a whole, Bord Bia estimates that the value of Irish poultry exports increased by 20 percent to reach EUR310 million (US$359 million), helped by stronger processed poultry exports.
