No-deal Brexit could collapse Irish beef exports to the UK by 88%
A hard Brexit could be disastrous for the Irish meat industry, with the beef sector taking the hardest hit, according to a report from FTI Consulting. Under "no-deal" scenario, beef and other meats exports would fall by 88% and 76% respectively, says RTE website, quoting the report.
Duties applied for the Irish beef could raise the price of the product by 54% causing losses of €732 million and putting thousands of jobs in danger. The UK imported just over an average of 360,000 tonnes of beef and beef products between 2013 and 2017. In recent years, imports have remained relatively stable. On average, the value of imports is just under £1.3 billion per year. Imports from the EU accounted for an average of around 86% of the total (2013–2017). Ireland is the dominant supplier, with an average of 63% market share, according to an analysis included in the AHDB Horizon Brexit Trade report issued this month.
A proportion of these imports is beef that is produced in the country but exported for further processing due to the limited processing capacity in the UK. Fresh and chilled meat made up the majority of imports (an average of 53%) between 2013 and 2017, which mostly comprised boneless cuts that achieve higher prices as there is little or no further processing required and transports costs are lower. Fresh carcases accounted for around 10% of imported volumes.
The UK is a net importer of beef and around 75% self-sufficient in beef production.
In its report on no-deal contingency planning on 13 November, the European Commission said Ireland was the most affected member state, and that the EU would provide financial and other support, especially in the agri-food sector.
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