THE AGRIFOOD POWERHOUSE: FACTS AND FIGURES
- The total gross turnover of the food and drinks processing sector was £2.3bn in 1997, a drop from £2.4bn in 1996. The decline was due to a decrease in the value of dairy, beef and sheepmeat sales.
- In 1997 this sector accounted for 25% of total manufacturing sales.
- Value added in the food and processing sector amounted to £388m in 1997 with drinks, poultry and dairy products representing more than half.
- Between 1996 and 1997 the number of people employed by the food and drinks processing industry dropped by 550 to 19,749.
- In 1997 the 10 largest food and drinks processing companies in Northern Ireland represented 34% of total gross turnover, 39% of value added and 36% of total employment.
- Export sales of food and drink totalled £336m in 1997, £131m less than in 1996.
- The food and drinks processing sector represented 11% of total manufacturing export sales in 1997, 5 percentage points lower than in 1996.
- The Republic of Ireland is the largest export market for this sector with sales in 1997 of £179m, £7m lower than in 1996.
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