Simon Coveney: ‘Africa will drive world dairy consumption’

Much of the projected increase in world dairy consumption over the next 10 years will be driven by Africa and countries like Nigeria with strong population centres.

That’s what Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney declared at a major Bord Bia organised dairy seminar which he hosted in Lagos, Nigeria, yesterday, during a trade mission to West Africa.

He said Irish dairy exports to Nigeria were worth over €140m in 2014 which was up some 50% since 2010 and represent a growing slice of dairy exports which last year reached €3.1bn.

“This marks Nigeria as a market greater in size than the United States for Irish dairy exports thus giving an indication of its importance.

Minister Coveney said more than 85% of Irish dairy production is being exported with one third of their value going outside the European Union.

“It is imperative that the Irish dairy sector continues to source sustainable third country markets particularly now that our output is expanding since quotas were abolished,” he said.

Minister Coveney is accompanied by 45 Irish companies on the mission from the agri-food, education, financial, aviation, energy and ICT sectors.