Irish seafood exports are up in the first five months of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, mainly thanks to the reopening of the mainland European tourist trade.
From January to May 2022, Irish seafood exports to the EU27 were valued at EUR 142 million (USD 144.6 million), up 7 percent on the same period last year, according to Bord Bia, the Irish food promotion board. Shellfish and salmon were the highest-valued categories during the period, with shellfish accounting for 62 million (USD 62.6 million) in export sales – up 19 percent year-on-year – and salmon sales abroad worth EUR 40 million (USD 40.7 million), up 15 percent year-on-year.
“Cost inflation is affecting the Irish seafood sector, as well as all other sectors, resulting in increased value,” noted Bord Bia in a statement to SeafoodSource. “With the easing of COVID-19 restrictions throughout the E.U. this year, more restaurants are open for business across the continent. This has resulted in greater opportunities for seafood exporters in comparison to 2020 and 2021.”
Bord Bia did not respond to a question about its previous fears about the granting of tariff-free access for U.S. lobster into the European Union. The free-trade access, secured in 2020, was blamed by some for dragging down prices for Irish lobsters in the E.U. export market in 2021. In response, last year, Irish Member of the E.U. Parliament Chris MacManus called for studies into the impact of American lobster imports as well as the possibility of introducing supports or subsidies for Irish lobster producers, who were badly hit in 2020 by the closure of the French catering sector due to the coronavirus.
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