Irish food and drink exports to the UK reach €5.4 billion

The value of Ireland’s food, drink and horticulture exports to the UK increased by 20 per cent to €5.4 billion in 2022 according to new figures released today in the annual Bord Bia Export Performance and Prospects report 2022/2023 from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, TD.

The near €1 billion YOY increase in Irish food and drink export value can be attributed to the ongoing positive and collaborative partnerships between UK and Irish businesses. Ireland remains a key strategic partner to the UK, meeting the needs of customers to provide high quality, sustainably produced goods that are highly trusted by UK consumers. Other factors include: increasing unit prices due to inflation and rising input costs, and an increase in the volume of goods exported. Irish food and drink exports continue to flow at a consistent and reliable rate, with available data indicating an increase of 19 per cent in total volume of exports YOY to the UK, from January to October 2022.

In value terms, the UK remains the largest single market with a 32 per cent share, 34 per cent of Ireland’s food and drink exports go to the EU and a further 34 per cent to international markets. A key factor of the Irish food and drink industry’s success in the UK has been to maintain a diverse range of markets and channels. Sustainability remains a core theme as Bord Bia strengthens its supports and standards to reflect this, having celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Origin Green programme in 2022.

“The strong trading performance of Irish exports once again demonstrates that Ireland continues to be a consistent, reliable and secure partner of the UK food and drink industry,” said Donal Denvir, Bord Bia General Manager, United Kingdom.

“The trading challenges we have seen over the last few years seem set to persist in 2023. However, Bord Bia can assure our partners that we will continue to invest in Irish businesses.”