55.8% rise in beef and veal exports

Exports from Ireland of beef and veal rose to 466,000 tonnes in 2002 from 299,000 tonnes in 2001, an increase of 55.8%, CSO figures out yesterday reveal.

In 2002, exports of beef and veal accounted for 86.3% of slaughterings, compared with 51.6% in 2001. This rise in exports has resulted in a sharp fall in the amount of beef and veal going into stocks in 2002. In 2001, it is estimated that 230,000 tonnes of beef and veal went into stocks compared with 22,000 tonnes in 2002.