Meat and Livestock sector

The value of primary Irish beef exports increased by 6% to €2.8 billion in 2024. Beef offal exports grew by 1% to €135 million.

EU beef production increased in 2024 with increased culling of cows and higher finishing weights. Consumer demand improved as economic pressures eased, and consumers increased their beef purchase levels. Demand for manufacturing beef remained firm despite cool and wet weather across much of Europe in the early summer. Still, with consumer demand rebounding and limited supplies, prices firmed from July onwards. The average EU young bull price reached €5.10 per kg for the year to early November, compared with €4.96 per kg in the same period of 2023. By comparison, Irish R3 steer prices averaged €5.12 per kg for the same period, which represented a 3% improvement YOY. 

The European Commission estimates that beef consumption across the EU decreased by 1.7% to 9.6kg per capita, while beef imports to the EU declined by an estimated 2% to 318,000 tonnes.

Prospects for 2025

Global demand for beef imports is expected to increase further in 2025, as economic growth positively influences consumer sentiment and spending on beef. 

The Irish pigmeat sector recorded a modest recovery in exports during 2024, despite a highly competitive market environment for pork internationally. The value of primary pigmeat exports grew by an estimated 7% to reach €490 million. This performance was fueled by a 7% increase in export volumes to approximately 200,000 tonnes, combined with slightly higher unit pricing.

The European Commission’s short-term outlook for agricultural markets indicated that EU pigmeat production declined slightly (0.5%) in 2024, with a further marginal reduction projected for 2025. This followed a 7.2% decline in 2023, and a 5.1% reduction in 2022. As a result, the EU is becoming less internationally focused, with exports declining by an estimated 2.5% to 2.9 million tonnes in 2024. A further modest 2% decline is likely in 2025, reflecting the difficulty for EU pigmeat to compete with other producers in global markets.

Prospects for 2025

Irish pigmeat production is expected to recover further in 2025, supported by a 4.9% increase in breeding sow numbers recorded in the CSO’s June 2024 census.

Although Irish pig producer prices experienced some decline in late 2024, this followed a period of relative stability, particularly regarding feed, energy costs and market returns. Across Europe, production is likely to remain at historically low levels, which has already caused EU processors to restructure operations

Irish poultry production grew by an estimated 3% in 2024, with throughput at export meat plants reaching 115 million birds.

As in previous years, chickens (broilers and hens) accounted for the vast majority of birds processed, at 96%, followed by ducks and turkeys representing 3% and 1%, respectively.

Despite higher supplies, Irish primary poultry exports declined by 3% to €140 million in 2024. There was also a reduction of 4% in volumes exported at approximately 65,000 tonnes. Growth in the domestic market was a contributing factor to lower export volumes and value.

Prospects for 2025

The European Commission’s short-term outlook for agricultural markets estimates that EU poultry production increased by 4% during  2024, in response to lower production costs and favourable output prices.

For 2025, a smaller EU production increase of 0.9% is anticipated.

The value of Irish sheepmeat exports declined for the second consecutive year in 2024, falling by 6% to €400 million.

This represents a 6% decline from 2023 levels and takes the value of sheepmeat exports back to 2021 levels. The key contributor to reduced export values in 2024 was a sharp decline in lamb throughput and a notable reduction in product availability for export as a result. Export volumes fell by a notable 23% in 2024 to total 56,000 tonnes.

Prospects for 2025

Supply is expected to remain tight in early 2025.

Firm trade for breeding stock at the back end of 2024 combined with positive farmer sentiment, on the back of relatively good returns, should help provide some stability in supplies in the second half of the year.

The trading of live animals continues to play an important role in the Irish livestock sector, with exports valued at €340 million during 2024, an increase of almost 30% from 2023 levels.

Live cattle exports contribute 75% of the overall category value, representing a large proportion of trade in terms of both numbers and value. An increase in the total number of cattle at 360,000 head and growth in the number of  older animals leaving Ireland led to trading increasing to €255 million.

Prospects for 2025

The live trading of animals remains under intense scrutiny at both a local  and European level.

Proposed changes to EU Transport legislation around journey times, feeding intervals, age at transport and space allowances will negatively impact the longer-term future of the unweaned calf trade in particular.

In addition, the Dutch market will effectively be closed to Irish calves after 2025 with the implementation of the Dutch ‘Veal Forward Plan’. Despite these challenges, the short-term outlook for calf exports in 2025 remains fairly positive, with firm forward demand from customers in key markets including Spain, Italy, Central and Eastern Europe.