NI's agri-food sector turnover 'is close to 拢5bn'
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Milk, milk products, poultry, beef and sheepmeat were the biggest sectors for sales
The turnover of Northern Ireland's agri-food sector increased by almost 拢500m in 2017, a rise of 11%, according to government statistics.
And the trend in our biggest manufacturing sector is one of continued growth, with provisional estimates for 2018 showing annual sales close to 拢5bn.
The value of sales in 2017 was 拢4.8bn.
The biggest market is Great Britain which takes 49% of goods valued at 拢2,377m
Northern Ireland is next where 24% of produce is consumed.
The Republic of Ireland is our biggest export market accounting for 15% of sales worth 拢716m.
Other EU countries and the rest of the world account for 12%.
Poultry, beef and sheep meat are amoung the biggest sectors by employment
The sector employs more than 23,000 full-time equivalent workers.
The biggest sectors for sales were beef and sheep meat, milk and milk products and poultry.
There were 23 businesses with an annual turnover in excess of 拢50m. Between them they accounted for 70% of turnover and 56% of total employment.
By employment, the biggest sectors were poultry, beef and sheep meat, bakery and fruit and vegetable.