Last year’s trade mission to Iran by the Department of Agriculture, Bord Bia and 17 dairy companies appears to have paid almost immediate dividends for Ireland’s dairy exports. Figures released this week from the EU Commission show that Ireland exported 1,874t of butter into Iran in 2016, which is almost 19 times more than the 100t exported in 2015.

While nothing like the sort of volumes of butter Ireland is shipping to countries like Germany (39,570t) or the UK (42,159t), it is still a very positive story to see international markets like this developing for Irish butter.

Having been of little importance for Irish dairy exports for the last five years, Iran has suddenly shot up the rankings to become Ireland’s sixth most important international market for butter. It now ranks behind the likes of Canada, Morocco and Turkey in importance for Irish butter exports.

With a population of more than 80m people, Ireland’s dairy industry sees significant potential for further export growth to Iran in the years ahead. The country’s economy is expected to grow over the coming years, after international trading sanctions were lifted in 2016.

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http://www.farmersjournal.ie/iran-the-land-of-opportunity-207474