Ireland’s food and drink exports to the UK continue to go from strength to strength, with export values growing by 14% to €6.7 billion (£5.8 billion) in 2025, in the face of inflation, geopolitical uncertainty, extreme weather events and evolving consumer behaviours.

The results of The Irish Food Board’s (Bord Bia) annual Export Performance and Prospects Report demonstrate the strength of Ireland and the UK’s trade relationship, delivering reliable, high-quality produce.

Beef, dairy and prepared consumer foods (PCF), such as bread and ham, were the primary drivers of growth for the UK market:

- Top Irish export categories to the UK in 2025 vs 20241

Ireland’s food and drink exports to the UK continue to go from strength to strength

placeholder image — Ireland’s food and drink exports to the UK continue to go from strength to strength

- Beef +25% (1.6 billion Euros // £1.4 billion)

- Dairy +18% (1.3 billion Euros // £1.1 billion)

- Prepared Consumer Foods +10% (2.5 billion Euros // £2.2 billion)

This underscores the continued trust in produce from Ireland and demand for Irish beef in particular. Ireland remains the leading supplier of beef to the UK, accounting for 77% of imports versus southern hemisphere competitors New Zealand and Australia who had a combined share of 10% for beef value up to August 2025.

Export values grew by 14% to €6.7 billion (£5.8 billion) in 2025

A strong farming year is attributed to dairy’s value growth success in 2025. Ireland’s Central Statistics Office (CSO) reports milk collections are on track for a record year of approximately 8.8 billion litres. Good weather conditions in the spring and summer months supported grass growth during the critical peak milk period.

The UK was one of the top three market growth drivers for dairy exports, alongside Europe and North America. Together they accounted for over 80% of butter export volumes and over 85% of cheese.

These results indicate that Ireland is the standout partner for retailers and foodservice operators who are facing supply chain challenges and unstable market conditions. With resilient supply processes and reliable availability, Irish producers can offer support by providing quality assured, sustainably sourced food which is backed by the Irish government’s national sustainability plan, Origin Green.

The Rise of PCF

Major international events over the last five years have impacted food and drink exports to the UK, particularly for bakery, meal solutions and cooked meats. Consumer demand continues to shift toward health, premium quality, value, and convenience, driving increased innovation and closer supplier collaboration. As a result of this collaborative approach by Irish suppliers, exports to the UK have grown from approximately €1.8 billion in 2019 (around 67% of all PCF exports) to over €2.5 billion in 2025, representing 70% of total PCF exports 1.

UK Export Product Spotlight:

Bread: In an increasingly price-sensitive market, bread makers are focusing on innovating value-added offerings, highlighting quality to UK customers.

Pre-prepared and convenience: The retail frozen channel in the UK has emerged as the primary destination for shoppers looking for convenient meal solutions, now accounting for 66% of total exports. It is a dynamic retail landscape, with easing inflation, renewed volume growth, and evolving shopper behaviours. Retailers have been pushing promotions and attracting more shoppers online, balancing smaller baskets with increased frequency.

Value-added pig meat: The UK continues to be the primary export market for products such as ham and bacon, accounting for over 74% of exports. Cost-of-living pressures have resulted in consumers shifting purchasing behaviour, for example, eating out less. Retailers have responded with sous vide and ready-to-eat ranges, such as slow-cooked pork products, to entice shoppers with an ‘eat out’ experience at home.

UK Market Manager Conor O’Sullivan says: “In a highly volatile market, we’ve once again demonstrated that through partnerships built on trust, Irish suppliers are able to work with UK retailers, chefs, and hospitality businesses to develop and deliver premium products that taste great and help meet sustainability targets, backed by Origin Green.

“We know it’s tough for businesses throughout the UK who are facing increasing pressure on supply chains, with margins being squeezed more than ever over the last 12 months. Ireland is poised to help meet these challenges head on with robust availability of sustainably sourced, quality ingredients and goods that both shoppers and diners love.”

Looking Ahead to 2026

Irish food and drink exporters are entering 2026 with a more cautious outlook, despite a good 2025 performance. Inflation continues to affect the market with growing affordability concerns, especially in relation to beef. Bord Bia-commissioned research with Numerator highlighted how British consumers were trading down to lower-priced beef products and switching to other proteins over the summer period.

According to Bord Bia’s CEO Sentiment Survey with senior executives from Irish food and drink exporting companies (representing €9.5 billion (£8.2 billion) in exports), overall sentiment remains moderately positive, with just over half of companies expecting export growth in 2026. But growth expectations have softened compared with the previous year, reflecting ongoing cost pressures, geopolitical uncertainty and subdued consumer demand in some markets.

Bord Bia’s Export Performance and Prospects 2025/26 Report is available to download at: www.bordbia.ie