Irish beef exports reached 535,000t last year, the highest level in more than a decade.

Irish beef was exported to 84 countries and was valued at €2.38bn.

Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed revealed the figures in parliamentary questions recently.

The UK and European countries remained the main market for Irish beef, accounting for 97% of exports last year.

Ireland, in total, exported 526m t of beef in 2016, worth €2.2bn.

Britain accounted for half of this market, taking in over 234,000t worth over €1bn, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

A further 31,000t went to Northern Ireland, worth €110m.

Other countries in the EU that were significant importers of Irish beef last year include France and Italy, who took €208m and €161m, respectively.

Ireland exported 23,000t of beef to Germany, which was a doubling in volume since 2012.

International markets for Irish beef last year include Hong Kong, which imported 16,000t, worth almost €43m, and the United Arab Emirates which took 62t, worth €800,000.

All meat and livestock

Overall exports of Irish meat and livestock were valued at €3.66bn last year, representing one third of total food and drink exports.

Both Irish pigmeat and sheepmeat exports were up by 4% to €615m and €240m, respectively.

Britain took €382m in Irish pigmeat exports, while over €118m was sent to China. Pigmeat dominated all meat and livestock exports to China and was worth €119m.

All meat and livestock exports to Britain came to €1.6bn, while €209m was sent to Northern Ireland.

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