Newly-released figures from Ireland’s statistics authority have revealed that food imports from the UK mainland, excluding Northern Ireland, were down by 75% in January, the first month in which trading was carried out under new post-Brexit rules.
Ireland’s Central Statistics Office (CSO) revealed today (18 March) that imports of food and live animals from Great Britain were EUR62m (US$73.9m), in January, a fall of 75% year-on-year.
Exports of food and live animals to Great Britain were also hit, falling by one-third to EUR188m.
UK and Irish food companies, agri-food businesses and hauliers carrying their produce have complained about the need for additional pre-export preparation - especially around the shipping of live animals - and more paperwork at customs points since 1 January when the UK left the EU and frictionless trade ended between it and EU member states, including Ireland.
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By GlobalDataOrla McCarthy, senior statistician at the CSO, said: "Traders reported that a combination of factors contributed to the large reduction in imports from Great Britain in January 2021. These included the challenges of complying with customs requirements.
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"Other factors identified by traders were stockpiling of goods in Q4, 2020 in preparation for Brexit, substitution with goods from other countries, and a reduction in trade volumes due to the impact of Covid-19 related restrictions throughout January."
