While producing countries are forecast to export 2.7% more beef this year, demand from importing countries will outpace this with 3% growth, according to figures presented by Bord Bia's beef sector manager Mark Zieg at Friday's event in Naas, Co Kildare.

Ireland's most direct competitors should be less active this year, with Poland's beef exports due to grow by 5% after a "dramatic" 14% jump last year, Zieg said. Meanwhile, China's hunger for beef is not abating, with a 11% rise in imports expected this year, and other destinations are expected to continue growing.

The Philippines became the largest non-EU destination for Irish beef last year, with 19,000t exported.

Speakers were hopeful that the two-year-old market access process to China would come to a successful conclusion soon. Sinéad McPhilips of the Department of Agriculture said that Ireland received the latest inspection report from the Chinese authorities last week and was now preparing its response. "There are continuing discussions between the Department and China's Certification and Accreditation Administration; we’re hopeful that we can progress that as soon as possible," she said.

The progress we’ve made with access in recent months is quite significant and we’re optimistic about it

Conor O'Sullivan of Bord Bia's Shanghai office added: "The progress we’ve made with access in recent months is quite significant and we’re optimistic about it." He said now was the time to enter the Chinese market, with e-commerce and restaurant sectors booming and the diversification of diets boosting beef consumption. "Today, China is not a big beef eater, with. 3.6kg/person. Every extra kilo per person means 1.38mt – that’s twice Ireland’s production," O'Sullivan said.

Irish kill

With the Irish cattle throughput expected to grow from 1.75m head this year to between 1.78m and 1.8m next year, and prices picking up in late 2017, Bord Bia's beef and livestock sector manager Joe Burke described a steady scenario for farmers this year. "Throughput last year rose by 105,000 head. We’re likely to see some further increase this year – it won’t be as significant but we’ll see more prime cattle and cull cows coming through," he said.

Meanwhile, Burke noted that average carcase weights fell by 1% last year and were not expected to increase this year. "It will depend on the fodder situation. If farmers are forced to finish cattle earlier, we’re likely to see weights decrease further," he said.

Prices have remained high in the key UK market, making up for the loss in value of the pound sterling over the past year.

Slaney Foods managing director Rory Fanning told the Irish Farmers Journal that he was optimistic for 2018, especially for exports to the UK, adding that efforts to promote Irish beef overseas have now "come home to roost".

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2017 strongest year on record for Irish meat exports – Bord Bia