New data shows that Irish drinks exports continue to grow – increasing by 2%, to €2 billion, in 2025 – despite strong economic and trade challenges. Cormac Healy, director of Drinks Ireland, speaks to Hospitality Ireland.
This article was originally published in the Spring 2026 issue of Hospitality Ireland magazine, in April of 2026.
Although exports to North America declined slightly, to €920 million, due to market conditions and new tariff pressures, exports to Canada grew by approximately 25%.
Exports to Africa also increased sharply, rising by almost 60%, to €100 million, while Asia recorded a 17% increase, to €85 million, driven largely by India, which accounted for €40 million.
Within the European Union, exports were stable overall, with Germany recovering in the second half of the year, France remaining steady, and Belgium, Italy and Spain showing strong levels of growth.
Irish Whiskey Sales Diversify
According to Bord Bia, Irish whiskey continued to represent the largest share of our drinks exports, accounting for 45% of the total export value, at approximately €930 million, despite a 5% decline from the previous year. This was a resilient performance, given the uncertainty generated by new tariffs in the US, a 12% devaluation in the US dollar, and inflationary pressures.
The long‐term performance of Irish whiskey remains strong, as it is one of the fastest-growing spirits categories, with 9% value growth within the global premium+ spirits category over the past five years. Exports to the EU remained stable, and although Irish whiskey exports to the UK were slightly lower in 2025, the trend of emerging‐market growth continued, with strong performances in Nigeria, South Africa, India, Japan, China, Singapore and Malaysia.
Beer And Irish Cream Liqueur Exports Grow
Bord Bia’s data shows that Irish cream represented the second-largest category of exports, increasing by 10%, to reach an estimated €430 million, and contributing meaningfully to the uplift in drinks exports. The US and Canada accounted for over 63% of the total, with both markets performing well in 2025.
Irish beer was a strong performer in 2025, with exports growing to €350 million – up 7%. Exports to the UK declined by 14% after an impressive performance in 2024, and EU markets increased by 21%. Exports to the US increased by 14%.
“The latest figures show that diversification is a clear indicator of the sector’s resilience in the face of global pressures,” says Drinks Ireland’s Cormac Healy.
“While traditional markets like North America remain important, strong growth in Africa, Asia, and across the EU demonstrates how Irish drinks are reaching more consumers in more regions than ever before. This breadth of opportunity is helping the industry navigate uncertainty and maintain momentum, underlining the strength of our home-grown brands and the adaptability of our businesses.”
Cormac, was there anything in the report that surprised you?
No. By and large, the export figures are in line with what we [had] been hearing from members throughout 2025. We knew that with tariff pressures and trade uncertainty that exports to the US would be under some pressure, and that progress was being made in markets such as India, Japan and South Africa.
In fact, given the level of trade uncertainty and shifting consumer dynamics, the overall performance was good and showed great resilience from the sector. We also noted from the Bord Bia CEO Sentiment Survey that across food and drink, while overall there was a slowing/delaying of some investment decisions, in the drinks sector, sentiment towards investment was faring better. This is encouraging for the future.
What can the Irish drinks industry do to try and ensure a continued strong performance?
The North American market will remain important, but the sector needs to continue to work on market development and diversification. This is a collective approach from industry, but also needs to be supported by government and state agencies.
We need targeted support, especially for new and small businesses, if Ireland is to maintain our hard-earned reputation for excellence and innovation. Sustaining momentum and protecting against further volatility will require a strong focus on competitiveness, fair regulation, and progress on key trade priorities.