Meat Industry Ireland has said they expect a rise in global demand for meat this year.

The sector has been buoyed by the positive results in the recent  Bord Bia’s Performance and Prospects report which showed Ireland’s food and drink exports reached a record €17bn last year.

Food, drink and horticulture exports rose 5% year in 2024 bolstered by a 6% increase in meat and livestock exports to €4.3bn. 

In the past 12 months, the meat and livestock export sectors also saw a significant increase of 6% year-on-year, driven by higher volumes and higher unit prices. 

Beef exports, including offals, account for 68% of all meat and livestock exports and the value of same rose 6% year-on-year to €2.8bn, with beef offal exports valued at €135m.

In 2024, the value of primary pigmeat exports grew by an estimated 7% to reach €490m, with production expected to recover further in 2025.

However, Irish sheep meat exports suffered a 6% decline in value to €400m, primarily due to product availability and challenging weather conditions during the lamb breeding season. 

Dale Crammond, Director of Meat Industry Ireland, said: “In the face of a challenging global market, the Irish meat industry has performed exceptionally well in 2024. 

"While beef exports remain incredibly strong, I was particularly pleased to see that the value of primary pigmeat exports increased by 7% to €490m, rebounding strongly from a decline in 2023. 

“We expect a rise in global demand for the meat sector in the coming year and our members, despite some obvious challenges, are preparing to meet consumer demands in Ireland and overseas.

"As an industry, working with our farmer suppliers, we will continue to deliver high-quality products to international markets and further advance sustainability measures across the supply chain.”