Published in News
Meat Drives Ireland’s Food Export Growth in 2025
Higher prices for meat and dairy helped Ireland grow food exports in 2025, even though some shipment volumes were uneven.
Martina Osmak
Director of Marketing
Meat Takes the Lead
Ireland’s food export growth in 2025 was mainly driven by meat and livestock.
New figures from Bord Bia show that meat and livestock exports rose strongly in value during the year. Export earnings from this category increased by 18%, reaching more than US$5.8 billion.
The main reason was higher beef and cattle prices. Cattle supplies were tight in Ireland and in other producing countries. Because fewer animals were available, export volumes fell slightly, but higher prices more than made up for this.
Meat became the largest single contributor to growth across Ireland’s food, drink, and horticulture exports.
Overall Food Exports Continue to Grow
Thanks largely to meat, Ireland’s total food, drink, and horticulture exports increased by 12% in 2025. The sector reached a total value of US$22.2 billion.
Bord Bia said trading conditions during the year were unstable, with:
Rising costs
Ongoing inflation
Changing global demand
These factors made export performance uneven across different products.
Dairy Exports Also Perform Well
Dairy was the second biggest growth driver after meat.
Dairy export value rose 14% to US$8.5 billion
Export volumes increased 12%
This growth was supported by:
Better dairy prices in early 2025
Higher milk production due to good grass-growing weather
Butter and cheese accounted for most of the extra volumes shipped overseas.
Seafood Volumes Jump Despite Price Pressure
Seafood exports also improved, though the picture was mixed.
Export value increased 9% to US$742 million
Export volumes jumped 22%
Lower prices for some species reduced earnings, but the higher volumes helped balance this. Bord Bia warned that future quota cuts could affect seafood supply in coming years.
Steady Growth in Prepared Foods
Prepared consumer foods recorded moderate growth in 2025.
Export sales rose 9% to US$4.2 billion
Exports to the United Kingdom increased by 10%
Growth came mainly from:
Chocolate and confectionery
Soft drinks
Ready meals
Chocolate exports performed especially well, rising 28% to US$105 million. Sugar confectionery also grew, reaching US$204 million.
Value-added meat products increased slightly, while bakery exports stayed flat, showing that many UK buyers remain very price-sensitive.
Looking Ahead
Overall, 2025 was a strong year for Ireland’s food exports. Higher prices played a bigger role than higher volumes, especially for meat. While demand remains uncertain in some markets, Ireland’s food sector continues to show resilience in a challenging global environment.
Source: https://www.foodbusinessmea.com/meat-exports-lead-irelands-food-trade-growth-in-2025/