Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1 on Sunday, Coveney stood by his prediction that Ireland would export 20,000t of beef worth €100 million annually to the US, “but probably not this year”.

While he acknowledged that volumes exported to the US since the first Irish factories received licenses earlier this year have remained small, he said this was largely because those were confined to high-value steak cuts rather than mass-marketed burgers and mince. However, he added: “We expect to be able to get manufacturing beef product into the US in the next two months.”

Coveney also noted that with high prices in the UK, pushing US exports had been less of an immediate priority. “The pressure has come off slightly in terms of selling increased volumes to the US because prices have improved closer to home,” the minister said.

Yet he promised to continue efforts to open as many markets as possible, mentioning China, Japan, the US, and other parts of Europe, “to ensure that Irish farmers get the best price for their beef”.

Dairy markets

Coveney also reiterated the statement he made earlier this week that the current slump in milk market was temporary and caused by the Russian ban and over-stocking of milk powder in China.

He said he expects China to go through its stocks and resume higher import volumes in the next six months.

As he prepares to meet EU Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan in Brussels on Thursday, Coveney said the European Union “may” increase support for dairy markets.

“The view of the Commission at the moment, as I understand it from my conversations with them, is that they want to be absolutely sure that if they do take the step to significantly increase intervention prices for dairy products, that it will actually have the desired effect of putting a floor on prices,” the minister said.

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Beef exports analysis: European worries, American possibilities