Irish food and drink exports earned €10.5 billion in 2014, which is a four per cent increase and the fifth consecutive year of export growth, says The Irish Food Board (BordBia).
Changing destinations for Irish exports in 2014 were one of the reasons for a 15 per cent increase in trade to international markets, standing at €3million – 29 per cent of food and drink exports.
According to the Board’s Export Performance and Prospects Report, the strongest exports were dairy, seafood and prepared seafood.
Aidan Cotter, chief executive of Bord Bia said: “The industry’s drive to broaden export reach to destinations outside of the EU is paying dividends with growth in emerging and international markets now driving export figures, offsetting the limited growth in our established premium EU markets” he said.