The Republic of Ireland’s poultry meat exports were worth Euro 143 million (US$155.4 million) last year, an increase of 14%. By volume, overseas sales rose by 3% to stand at 78,000 metric tons (MT).
The U.K. remains the largest single market for Ireland’s poultry meat exporters, and 2022 saw shipments to the U.K. rise by 19% to Euro 85 million.
This recovery, notes Bord Bia, Ireland’s food, drink and horticulture promotional body, reflects the strong upturn in foodservice in the neighboring country, due to the lifting of COVID-19 lockdowns. In 2021, as a result of limited foodservice, Ireland’s exports to the U.K. contracted by 16%.
An even stronger upturn was reported in shipments to fellow Member States of the European Union (EU). Shipments to the EU were up by 31% to stand at Euro 30 million, with key destinations being the Netherlands, France, Denmark and Germany. Bord Bia also notes that shipments to Spain were significantly higher, albeit starting from a low base, comprising sales of dark meat products to the retail channel.
Outside of Europe, however, exports fared less well. Sales declined by 7% to approximately Euro 31 million, largely reflecting ongoing trade restrictions in South Africa.
The average price of Ireland’s poultry meat exports rose by 11% last year.
Value in value-added
Bord Bia has also published data under the heading of Prepared Consumer Foods, and poultry grew at a stronger rate than the sector average. Prepared Consumer Foods exports were worth Euro 925 million last year, up by 30% and with key destinations being, again, the U.K., France, Germany, Spain and Denmark. Value-added poultry products grew by 40%, with a value of Euro 210 million.
Negative trade balance
While Irish poultry meat exports may have strengthened last year, the country’s trade balance in poultry meat is negative.
Data published by the Central Statistics Office in October last year shows that the only Irish meat sector where imports exceeded exports is poultry, with imports exceeding exports by 19,000 kg in 2021. Ireland is 267% self-sufficient for all meat products, however, where poultry meat is concerned, that figure falls to 90%.
Improving outlook for producers?
Poultry is the most consumed meat in Ireland, accounting for 42% of all meat consumed. It stands significantly ahead of pigmeat, which accounts for 34%, but this does not mean that producers have not been without exports.
The upturn in exports should offer some comfort for the country’s producers, however, like their counterparts elsewhere, Ireland’s poultry farmers have had to work with rising input costs, a reluctance from retailers to pass costs on to consumers and disease issues.
Commenting on last year, the Irish Farmers’ Association noted that producer margins had been severely squeezed and that urgent intervention was necessary to ensure the future of the poultry industry. It continued that, without an increase in payments, the sector could not be maintained at current levels.
Ireland, like its neighbors, has also been hit by outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, recording a total of 91 outbreaks between October 1, 2021 and September 30, according to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Only six of these outbreaks, however, were in poultry flocks.
Ireland’s poultry meat exports suffered sharp fall in 2021
