Ireland's Trade in Goods 2017

There were 93,000 tonnes of bananas and 62,000 tonnes of apples imported in 2017. Over 70% of the imports of bananas came from Costa Rica (39,000 tonnes) and Belize (27,000 tonnes). There were also over 8,000 tonnes of pineapples imported from Costa Rica in 2017.

Over 48,000 tonnes of oranges and mandarins were imported in 2017, at a value of €48 million. The biggest import partners were South Africa (9,700 tonnes), Spain (7,800 tonnes), Peru (5,100 tonnes) and Morocco and Egypt (both 4,500 tonnes).

Exports of beef, sheep, pig meat and poultry amounted to almost €3.8 billion in 2017 with exports of bovine meat and offal accounting for over 60% of this value. There were 547,000 tonnes of bovine meat and offal exported in 2017, with a value of €2.4 billion. The graph below shows the relatively high unit value per tonne of bovine meat in comparison to that of pig meat, sheep and poultry.

In 2017, Ireland exported almost €2.2 billion of butter, milk and cheese. Butter accounted for over 40% of the export value of these dairy products, recording exports of €935 million. 

The UK is the largest export market for butter, milk and cheese, with exports of €762 million of these products to the UK in 2017. Exports of €185 million of butter and €65 million of milk to the Netherlands were recorded. There was €31 million of milk exported to Nigeria in 2017, with €26 million going to Algeria. There was also €40 million of cheese exported to Algeria.

Imports of milk were valued at €324 million in 2017, with €282 million coming from the UK. There were imports of €226 million of cheese in 2017, with €139 million also coming from the UK.

Ireland exported almost €1.3 billion of infant formula in 2017. Over 40% of these exports, valued at €526 million, were exported to China. The UK, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and the Netherlands along with China comprised the five largest markets for this product.