Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

One of the most welcome aspects of the Bord Bia publication in January was that, while the value of our exports to the United Kingdom had increased in financial terms, the volume of exports to the United Kingdom had dropped from almost 40% in 2016 to 35% in 2017. This is a vindication of our strategy to try to find new markets, both within the rest of the European Union and in third countries outside it. Interesting figures include the rate of growth in exports to Asia in 2017 of 6% to €850 million. The level of trade with Africa recovered by almost 20% to a value of over €200 million. Exports to the Middle East were stable, at approximately €290 million, while the value of the North American market grew by 7% to approximately €270 million. It was driven particularly by growth in exports to Mexico and the United States. At more than €650 million, China accounts for approximately 37% of our international dairy trade and 16% of our total dairy exports.

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