USA is a land of opportunity for Irish agri-food exports
The United States has long forged its place in history as the ‘land of opportunity’, but there really is no better way to describe it for the Irish agri-food firms making top dollar offering a taste of the Emerald Isle stateside.
The United States is Ireland’s largest agri-food export market outside of Europe — and the country’s second biggest market globally.
With a whopping €1.7bn in exports making it across the pond in 2022, a significant chunk of Ireland’s €19bn total agri-food exports, the importance of our special relationship with our American cousins can’t be overstated.
Both the volume and value of food exports to both countries have continued to increase over the last five years. However, the pace at which growth has occurred has been faster in the US, increasing a staggering 33% over the span of just a year.
Analysts attributed the surge to a significant increase in dairy and beverage exports in 2022, with the top two agri-food categories representing the lion’s share of Ireland’s agri-food exports to the US.
The last year of full trade figures show Irish dairy produce exports to the US totalled an additional €230m (up 52%), while exports in the beverages grew by €172m — a 26% increase — primarily driven by the American taste for all things Irish, including Jameson whiskey, Baileys cream liqueur and Kerrygold butter.
Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Dairy Industry Ireland director Conor Mulvihill explained brand power had been a major factor behind the growth.
“Irish dairy exports to the US achieved phenomenal growth in 2022 due to the exceptional performance of the Kerrygold brand, which has established itself firmly in American households as one of the US’s favourite premium butter brands. It currently holds the enviable position as the number two butter brand in the whole of the States,” he said.