The first shipment of Irish beef arrived in Shanghai last month, following the lifting of a three-year ban in January. Photograph: Brenda FitzsimonsChina’s market will be critically important for the development of Ireland’s food sector, particularly for premium products, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has said.
“China is a market with the largest population and an ever-increasing middle class who are driving increased demand for high quality food and beverages, which the Irish agri-food sector excels at producing. The potential for growing the value of our trade with the Chinese market, in particular for beef exports, is critically important to the development ambitions of the sector, which ultimately supports the sustainability of our family farm model.
The first shipment of Irish beef arrived in Shanghai last month, following the lifting of a three-year ban in January. Irish beef was first admitted to the Chinese market in 2018 but imports were suspended the following year due to a case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy . Irish beef exports to China were worth almost €40 million in 2019 and Bord Bia hopes to regain Ireland’s previous share of the market quickly despite increased competition from countries such as Brazil. Last December, weeks after the lifting of coronavirus restrictions, Bord Bia launched a three-year campaign to promote Irish beef and lamb in China.