Dairy drives Northern Ireland's food exports

Dairy products and eggs contributed to a 23 percent grown in food exports from Northern Ireland last year, according to the latest HMRC data.

Exports of dairy products, such as milk, powder, cheese and yoghurt, as well birds' eggs' increased by £177 million or 52 per cent last year.

Overall, exports of food and live animals rose by £255 million or 23 per cent. The most important export destinations for Northern Ireland food were within the EU including the Republic of Ireland, which remains the region's biggest single export market.

Exports of all Northern Ireland products increased in value by 9.3 percent, with the EU accounting for a majority (56%) of the region's sales abroad. This was an increase from 53 percent compared with the previous year. Exports of all products to EU partners increased by 15 percent compared with the previous year and exports to non-EU partners increased by 2.6 percent. 


There were increases in exports to four of the top five partner countries during the year. The exception was US.

The Irish Republic continued to dominate Northern Ireland's export business with its share increasing from 30 percent to 32 percent compared with the previous year.

The largest value increases were to the Irish Republic, a key market for Northern Ireland food and drink, which were up £347 million or 15 percent), followed by Canada (up £119 million, 33 percent).