Irish Dairy Exports Surge to Record €7.3 Billion in 2025

According to Bord Bia's Export Performance and Prospects Report 2025/2026, Irish dairy exports hit a record €7.3 billion in 2025, representing a 14% increase compared to 2024. The growth was driven by strong performances in key markets such as Europe, the UK, and North America, which collectively accounted for €5.4 billion or 72% of the total exports.

Exports to the EU were particularly robust, valued at €3.1 billion, a 20% increase from 2024. The UK market saw exports rise to €1.3 billion, up 18%, while North American exports grew by 11% to reach €1 billion. The report highlighted the impact of lower EU milk supply in the first half of the year and the strength of grass-fed Irish dairy products in the US.

Butter exports were notably strong, exceeding €2 billion for the first time, with a year-on-year growth of €380 million. This was attributed to strong European prices leading up to October. Cheese exports also increased significantly by 19%, contributing €1.7 billion to the total dairy exports, with Europe being a key market.

Other dairy products such as fat-filled milk powder (FFMP) saw exports rise by 16% to €975 million, while skim milk powder (SMP) exports increased by 30% to €530 million. However, exports of specialized nutritional powders declined by 25%, reflecting decreased demand in Asia. Casein exports were valued at €470 million, and whey exports reached €360 million, up €60 million from the previous year.

David Kennedy, head of dairy at Bord Bia, noted the record milk collections in 2025, amounting to approximately 8.8 billion litres, boosted by favorable weather conditions. He mentioned that butter and cheddar were significant contributors to price movements in 2025, although global supply improvements led to a rapid devaluation of butter in the second half of the year.