July 3, 2006

Ireland increasingly reliant on beef imports

Ireland's beef imports increased 10 percent over the past year, as the country becomes increasingly reliant on exports.

33,000 tonnes of beef was imported into Ireland in 2005, an increase of 3,000 tonnes on the previous year. Imports, which are now at their highest level ever, declined during 1997- 1999 and again in 2002, but have been increasing since.

Ireland's beef imports have tripled since 1999 despite per capita consumption remaining relatively steady at 21-22 kg/ head, signifying the increasingly important role played by imports.

Throughput at the beef export plants dropped to the lowest level in more than a decade in 2005, which at 785,000 head was down a quarter from 1999.

Slaughter of heifers last year was the lowest since 1998.