Ireland: Northern Ireland accounts for almost all of Ireland’s barley exports last year

A total of 78,438 tonnes of wheat and barley were exported out of Ireland in 2019 according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The majority of this grain travelled to Northern Ireland.

Of the 53,389 tonnes of barley (unmilled) 95% travelled to Northern Ireland. The remaining barley crossed the Irish Sea, while insignificant amounts went to Gibraltar and Lebanon.

In 2018, only 14,857 tonnes left the country, but in that year the total wheat and barley harvest amounted to approximately 1,717,000 tonnes – 456,000 tonnes lower than 2017. In 2018, spring crops were planted late and both spring and winter cereal yields were hit by drought.

It is also worth noting that the majority of the increase came from barley exports.

138,156 tonnes of barley (unmilled) were imported into the Republic of Ireland in 2019.

21 February, 2020