Milk market in Ireland

Earlier Report Observations

Ireland's milk market volume expanded consistently from 8.3 million tonnes in 2018 to a peak of 9.3 million tonnes in 2022. This growth was underpinned by the country's export-oriented dairy sector, where state-owned and cooperative players strengthened overseas sales to markets in the Middle East and Asia. Production efficiencies, including improved animal health and feeding practices, lifted milk output, while consumer demand for nutritious and sustainable dairy products provided additional support. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, processors adapted by shifting milk toward cheese production to offset lower food-service demand, helping maintain market momentum.

The market contracted to 9.0 million tonnes in 2023 as high input costs, particularly for feed exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, squeezed producer margins and constrained production growth. Structural challenges such as supply chain vulnerabilities and mounting sustainability pressures from EU environmental regulations further dampened expansion. Concurrently, a gradual shift in consumer preferences toward plant-based alternatives began to influence traditional milk consumption patterns.

Production milk in Ireland

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Ireland ranked as the 21st largest milk producer in the world.

Top producers of milk, 2017-2020

World map of production of milk, 2017-2020

Milk production in Ireland grew for the third consecutive year. In 2020, Ireland produced 8 561 K t of milk, marking a modest 3.8% increase from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production rose by 14.5%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Ireland in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports milk from Ireland

Exports in kind, K t

Ireland's cross-border milk shipments increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, exports reached 430.3 K t, showing no significant change from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports grew by 50.7%, with a CAGR of 14.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ireland in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom (46.9% of exports in kind), the Netherlands (13.6% of exports in kind), and China (6.4% of exports in kind) consistently served as the main destinations for Ireland's milk exports, together accounting for 66.9% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Ireland in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Milk deliveries from Ireland increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 775.5 M $ US, representing a significant 10.7% advance compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports rose by 55.8%, with a CAGR of 15.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ireland in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom (23.8% of exports in value terms), the Netherlands (19.3% of exports in value terms), and China (7.7% of exports in value terms) were the principal destinations for Ireland's milk exports in monetary terms, jointly accounting for 50.8% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Ireland in value, 2017-2020

Imports milk to Ireland

Imports in kind, K t

Ireland's milk import volume declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 695.6 K t, equivalent to a 9.1% decrease from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports fell by 8.5%, equating to an annualized rate of 2.9%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 822.8 K t, which also saw the largest increase of 8.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ireland in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, virtually all milk imports to Ireland in kind were associated with the United Kingdom, which accounted for 97.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Ireland in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Ireland's milk imports declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 356.2 M $ US, reflecting a moderate 5.4% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 2.5%, with a CAGR of 0.8%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 407.1 M $ US, which also saw the largest increase of 11.4%, while the largest decline occurred in 2019 at 7.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ireland in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom was the dominant market for Ireland's milk imports in value terms, taking 83.3% of total flows, with other countries accounting for the remaining share.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Ireland in value, 2017-2020