ANNOUNCING AN 11 per cent growth in Irish food and drink exports last year worth €7.9 billion, An Bord Bia says 70 per cent of exporters it surveyed recently have rated their prospects in the coming year as good or very good.

According to Aidan Cotter, chief executive of the food board, more than 20 per cent of exporters had increased full-time staff numbers in 2010 and 61 per cent had maintained staff levels.

He said despite the high degree of uncertainty among European consumers, the prospects for Irish food and drinks exports remained positive, helped by strong global demand for commodity products and a relatively tight supply situation.

The increase was supported by a more stable consumer environment, reduced exchange rate pressures and improved relative competitiveness, he added.

It was also boosted by rising global prices for most agricultural commodities.

Mr Cotter said the expansion in food and drink exports outpaced the increase in total merchandise exports and was estimated to have accounted for almost one-third of total growth during the first nine months of 2010.

Chairman of the board Dan Browne said all major categories recorded increases, led by dairy, which jumped by more than €300 million, or 17 per cent, to a value of €2.285 billion.

Meat and livestock exports were almost €200 million higher while beverage and prepared food exports recorded growth of €130 million and €100 million respectively.

Overall meat and live animal exports were worth €2.44 billion last year, Mr Browne added. Exports of beverages performed strongly and volumes increased across key categories and exports were estimated to have increased by 12 per cent to €1.19 billion.

Prepared food exports increased by 8 per cent to €1.39 billion, fish by 18 per cent to €370 million and horticulture and cereals by one per cent to €200 million.

Mr Cotter welcomed the growing penetration of European markets and exports to the mainly euro zone market increased by 14 per cent. European markets now accounted for 34 per cent of the industry’s total exports of food and drink.