There was an 8 percent fall last year in Irish food and drink exports to the United Kingdom, some commentators suggesting that this was caused by uncertainty over Brexit.
The UK accounts for about 17 percent of exports from Ireland. Exports to the UK dropped by an estimated 8 percent in 2016 as sterling weakened against the euro, and resulting competitive pressures impacted trade, Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, said in its end of year report.
Total food and drink exports still rose 2 percent year-on-year. Exports to other European markets, which account for 32 percent of food and drink exports, increased by 3 percent. There was a 35 percent jump in exports to China, which now accounts for close to 8 percent of exports, almost as much as North America.