Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

270. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the exact quantity of imported beef that has entered the Irish market in each of the past four months to date; the breakdown of the top five countries, and their respective quantities for this timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26845/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The most recently published trade data from the CSO covers the first three months of the year only, January to March 2023. The volume of beef recorded as imported into Ireland was 5,627 tonnes in January, -679 tonnes in February*, and 9,171 tonnes in March, for a total of 14,119 tonnes.

The top five countries from which beef was imported into Ireland over the first quarter were the United Kingdom (12,920 tonnes), Spain (511 tonnes), Netherlands (150 tonnes), Denmark (147 tonnes) and Germany (100 tonnes).

During the first quarter of 2023 Ireland exported 117,720 tonnes of beef, including 53,375 tonnes to the United Kingdom.

A summary of the data, broken down by month as requested, and showing the top five countries of origin, is below.

*The CSO Beef import data from the UK was corrected in February, resulting in a negative figure in the recorded stats for the month. CSO data for March is provisional. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the data contained within, in view of the volume of statistical data collected as part of agri-food trade statistics, some errors in respect of individual products may occur. Where these anomalies are identified, my Department will liaise with the CSO to highlight and amend the information as required.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

271. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has conducted an assessment of the impact of imported beef on Irish beef prices in each of the past four months to date; if so, the findings of this assessment; if there are significant price fluctuations; if so, how are they attributed to the imported beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26846/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, the nature of all commodity markets is that prices fluctuate and international trade flows are a two-way process. As the Irish beef sector is highly export oriented, its success is dependent on the maintenance of an open, rules-based multilateral trading system.

The latest CSO trade data for first quarter of the year shows that beef imports amounted to 12% of Irish beef exports in volume terms but only 6 percent in value terms.

To ensure transparency for all sector stakeholders, the EU Commission, my Department and Bord Bia publish online data on a range of beef price indicators.

According to my Department’s weekly Meat Market Report, the deadweight price of Irish R3 steers was €5.24/kg (excluding VAT) for the week ending 21st May (week 20) and the price for the grade has been relatively stable since the beginning of February (week five).

Bord Bia data tracking the prime Irish composite price against the prime export benchmark price which shows that the Irish price is currently 28c/kg above the benchmark price. In effect, this comparative data means that Irish beef prices are above the levels prevailing in our main European export markets making the domestic market attractive to trading partners.

In this context, the prime Irish composite price refers to the average price paid for prime beef animals (i.e. steers, young bulls and heifers) slaughtered weekly in Ireland based on the annual kill share for those categories and the main carcase grades. The prime export benchmark reflects the prices paid for prime cattle in different carcase categories and grades and is weighted according to the relative importance of key export markets for Irish beef - specifically, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden - where Irish exporters must compete with other European and international suppliers.

The relevant Bord Bia data can be accessed at the following link: Beef Market Tracking - Bord Bia | Irish Food Board

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

272. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the current volume of imported beef compares to the corresponding period in previous years; if there are any notable increases or decreases in imports during this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26847/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The most recently published trade data from the CSO covers the first three months of the year only, January to March 2023. There were 14,119 tonnes of beef imported into Ireland over this period, an increase of 5,164 tonnes (58%) on the same period in 2022.

A summary of the year-to-date data is below, with data from previous years for the corresponding period, for comparison.

Looking at the most recent full-year data, there were 51,665 tonnes of beef imported into Ireland in 2022. This was an increase of 16,994 tonnes (49%) on 2021. A summary of full-year data for 2018 to 2022 is below.