Agri-food exports offset drops in other sectors

The strong performance of Irish agri-food exporters in 2013 has been commended by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Minister Richard Bruton.

Mr Gilmore said an increase in agri-food exports went some way to offsetting the effects of the pharmaceutical patent cliff, which accounted for most of a 5% fall-off in overall merchandise exports in 2013.

Mr Bruton said the agri-food sector continued to perform well, and exports of food and live animals were up 8%, with exports of dairy products increasing by 15%.