Irish Farmers Association National Livestock Chairman Angus Woods said that live exports trade has performed ‘very positively’ in 2018.
Live exports for the year increased by 25% to 154,650 head compared to 123,505 this time last year. The farmers' group reported that the vast majority of exports were calves, 128,700 head, and 25,950 adult animals.
Woods said the latest developments on Turkey, clearing the way for private business on live exports, are very positive and should see a strong boost to the trade for the second half of the year.
Growing Demand
He added that it was very clear from the IFA and Bord Bia visit late last year that there is major potential to grow live exports to Turkey.
During the trip, IFA met with various Government agencies including the Turkish Meat and Milk Board, ESK, and with a number of private buyers who indicated a ‘strong wish to buy Irish livestock’.
The groups said that some exporters have already commenced assembling stock under the necessary quarantine arrangements for export to Turkey.
To date this year, more than 8,920 animals have been exported to international markets, the majority to Turkey. A small level of exports has also gone to Libya and Morocco. Angus Woods said there is also potential to export to Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria.
The IFA is very supportive of the live export trade which Woods described as ‘a key driver of competition and provider of essential market outlets’.
© 2018 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
