The total number of cattle exported live up until week ending 21 May 2017 stands at 116,225.

This compares very favourably with the same period in 2016, with exports running 34,961 head or 43% above last year’s levels.

The drivers of this change are 14,289 extra cattle exported to the Netherlands (39,991), 10,458 more to Spain (35,863), 5,199 to Belgium and 5,945 extra to countries outside the EU, namely Turkey and Libya.

Export performance

However, it is important when reviewing export performance in the year to date to take a wider view. The year to date figures are collated in Table 1:

As can be seen, live exports are performing relatively steady to 2015 and 2013 levels but have fallen behind 2014 levels in recent weeks by nature of calf exports holding stronger for later into the season in 2014.

Live exports are running almost 35,000 ahead of last year.

Department data

The latest Department figure of 5,636 head for week ending 21 May 2017 is made up of 1,830 animals to Libya, as already mentioned, 1,597 head to Spain (1,529 calves), 727 calves to the Netherlands, 677 head to Italy (of which 544 are calves), 548 to Northern Ireland and 147 to France.

Export volumes are likely to dip for last week with the absence of cattle travelling to Libya, but will be boosted in the coming days by another shipment of bulls to Turkey.

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