Irish beef and livestock: value growth under tight supply

Irish meat and livestock exports recorded strong value growth in 2025, driven by higher prices in a context of structurally constrained supply, at a time when topics such as the EU–Mercosur agreement and live animal trade restrictions have gained increased attention. Beef export revenues increased sharply despite lower shipment volumes, while live bovine animal exports followed a similar pattern. These developments reflect tight cattle availability in Ireland and across the EU.