Fresh figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in Ireland offer a complex narrative for the nation’s food production landscape. While a 5.6% increase was recorded for the June to August 2023 period compared to the same months in the previous year, the sector also registered a 2.3% dip when set against the immediate preceding quarter.
Sectoral Highlights: A Closer Examination
Meat and Dairy: Incremental Gains
The domain covering meat and related products posted a modest year-on-year growth of 0.9%, along with a 1.7% rise when gauged against the prior three months. Dairy output followed a similar trajectory, with a 2.4% year-on-year bump and a 4.9% escalation compared to the April-June 2023 span.
Grain and Animal Feed: A Notable Upswing
The most eye-catching performance was in the realm of grain milling, starch-based goods, and specially formulated feeds for livestock. These sub-categories witnessed a hefty 35.6% year-on-year expansion and a 20.3% climb when compared to the second quarter of this year.
The Wider Industrial and Manufacturing Context
The broader industrial and manufacturing sectors didn’t share the same fortune, according to the CSO’s findings. Manufacturing activities experienced a 0.5% quarter-on-quarter contraction, and an 11% year-on-year reduction was noted for the period covering June to August 2023.
Green Diesel: A Slight Downward Trend
On a related note, the CSO’s latest excise clearance data indicated a barely noticeable 0.1% year-on-year decline in green diesel clearances for the month of August. This fuel, mainly used in agricultural operations and for warming large buildings, totalled 107 million litres, showing a marginal decrease from its 2022 levels.
