Longford Farming: Irish agri-food exports to UK up 11% as dairy exports exceed €7b
The Review and Outlook for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 2025-to-2026 report was published recently and it revealed Irish agri-food exports reached over 180 countries worldwide.
Irish agri-food exports achieved a record value of €20.8 billion in 2025, an increase of almost €1.8 billion or 9% year on year, and a 70% increase since 2015, according to Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon.
The Review and Outlook for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 2025-to-2026 report was published recently.
Other notable findings from the report included that Irish agri-food exports reached over 180 countries worldwide, accounting for 8% of Irish goods exports by value.
The Irish agri-food trade surplus in 2025 was €6.2 billion, an increase of €1 billion or 21% year on year.
Dairy remained the largest Irish agri-food export category by value at €7.2 billion, exceeding €7 billion for the first time, and accounting for 34% of all agri-food exports.
At €8.1 billion (+11% year on year), the UK was our largest trading partner in 2025, accounting for 39% of total Irish agri-food exports by value, followed by the Netherlands at €2 billion (10%) and the United States at €1.9 billion (9%).
EU Member States accounted for €7.5 billion (36%) of Irish agri-food exports and Rest of World markets (global total excluding the EU and UK) accounted for the remaining €5.4 billion (25%).
Minister Heydon, said: “I am delighted to present the Annual Review and Outlook for the Agriculture Food and the Marine 2025 - 2026, the flagship economic publication of my Department.
"The Annual Review and Outlook provides an overview of developments in the agri-food sector during 2025 and into 2026, drawing on a diverse range of sources to bring together statistics, findings and analysis which capture the diversity and scale of activities and achievements in the sector.
"The agri-food sector – including primary production in farming, fishing and forestry, and the processing and manufacture of food, beverages and wood products – is Ireland’s oldest and largest indigenous exporting sector. In 2025, Irish agri-food exports achieved a record high of almost €21 billion, comprising 8% of all goods exported from Ireland.
"Irish agri-food exports enjoy a deserved global reputation for excellence, which is reflected in these record figures, and I am pleased that the trend for 2026 to date is also positive.
"This significant domestic economic footprint, including its export profile, reflects the natural comparative advantages of Irish agri-food production, including our long agricultural tradition, and our global reputation for high-quality, safe and nutritious produce.”
Notable market access successes in recent years include beef access to South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, sheep meat to Algeria; and poultry to Malaysia and the Philippines, together with expanded access to a number of markets including Japan and Vietnam.
The agri-food sector employed 171,600 people as a main occupation, representing 6.1% of total employment or 1 in 16 jobs nationwide, with a much greater proportion in rural and coastal areas.
Over 15,890 people are employed in the Irish seafood sector, both directly and downstream.