Some 74% of the growth in Irish beef exports to Japan last year was in offal, according to Bord Bia.

Beef and beef offal exports to Japan were valued €28m in 2021, an increase of almost €12m on the year previous or 76%.

Some €8.8m of this increase was comprised of beef offal products, such as Irish beef tongue. Overall, of the €137m of offal exported globally in 2021, Irish processors exported €13.6m to Japan, the third-largest market for the commodity, following France (€16m) and Hong Kong (€15m).

Continued rise

Total beef offal exports continue to rise, with some €65.8m exported during the first half of 2022, a 30% increase on the same six months last year.

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue joined meetings this week with Japanese buyers of Irish offal while visiting the country as part of his trade mission to southeast Asia.

The buyer in question recently purchased 125t of Irish beef offal, and the minister was “particularly encouraged” by the meeting, Bord Bia said.

Bord Bia also said that increasing offal exports is of benefit to farmers and highlighted that “EU beef carcase dressing specification is consistent across all meat plants and all member states”.

“In relation to the offal and hide coming from an animal, these byproducts contribute to the overall value returned from the market, and therefore they influence the demand for finished cattle by beef processors,” the spokesperson said.

ABP was also present in Japan this week and while Bord Bia confirmed the processor is not the sole Irish exporter to sell offal to the Japanese market, it is understood it makes up the majority of exports.

Read more

Irish Angus beef sells for €72/kg in Singapore