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Hopes for a resumption in exports of live cattle to Egypt increased after statements by the Egyptian ambassador to Ireland Soha Samir Nashd Gendi.
At a meeting with IFA president Joe Healy last Friday, she said that Ireland has been identified by the Egyptian government as a top country from which to source live cattle.
She indicated that imports of live cattle by Egypt would continue to be strong over the next number of years.
The government there has a project under way now, which would involve the importing of 1m head.
Egypt opened to live Irish cattle 12 months ago and agreed a health certificate with the Department of Agriculture for finished, slaughter cattle.
No business has yet taken place and exporters claim that strongest demand is for younger, finisher-type cattle. With this in mind, the Department of Agriculture has discussed the agreement of a health cert for such cattle with their counterparts in Cairo.
Following the meeting, Joe Healy called on Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to prioritise a trade visit to Egypt.
Food inflation
Egypt imports up to 300,000 head of cattle per year. The major supplier has been Australia, but Australian prices have risen in recent months and availability of live cattle from there has fallen. Egypt also imports over 300,000t of beef annually, frozen as well as fresh. Beef is the number one choice of meat over sheepmeat and poultry.
The country’s population is 85m and rising by about 2% per anum. The past two years have seen significant inflation in food prices including the price of domestically produced meat.
The Egyptian government sees imported livestock as a means of curbing prices.
10,000 cattle exported in a week
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