Irish exports of beef and pork declined last year as the country struggled with less favourable exchange rates and lower domestic production.

Beef and veal exports were down by 5% to 294,600 tonnes compared with 2008's levels, and a 4% drop in the average export price meant that the value of those exports fell 8% to EUR1.25 billion (US$1.7 billion), the latest AHDB European market survey revealed.

Irish exporters struggled to compete with supplies from the UK market, where the average price in euro terms fell by 7% due to sterling weakening. Volume shipments to the UK declined by 5%, but the UK market share of total Irish exports remained unchanged at 51%.

Pork exports from Ireland were down 7% on 2008 at 76,200 tonnes, despite a 12% increase in shipments to EU markets, led by strong demand in the UK. There was a sharp decline in trade to non-EU markets because of the product recall at the end of 2008 and subsequent bans imposed by importing countries.