Robert J. Park · Dashboards
NI food and drink processing
Northern Ireland food and drink processors turned over an estimated £7.1bn in 2023, with almost half of sales going to Great Britain. Industry emissions, where factory fuel is counted, are down 69% since 1990. The pressures now are customers, deforestation rules, packaging fees and deposit return.
The figures
Turnover
Gross turnover of the sector, £ million. 2021 is not shown because only a provisional estimate was published.
Source: NI food and drinks processing sector 2019–2020 (DAERA, 25 August 2022); NI food and drinks processing sector 2022 (NISRA, 10 April 2025)
Where sales go, 2022
Sales by destination. The NI figure is derived as total turnover less the published external markets, so treat it as approximate.
Source: NI food and drinks processing sector 2022 (NISRA, 10 April 2025); NI-produced food sales top £7bn (Irish News, 10 April 2025)
NI emissions by sector, 2024
Net emissions 18.4 MtCO2e. The highlighted sector is the one this dashboard covers.
Source: NI greenhouse gas inventory 1990–2024 statistical bulletin (DAERA/NISRA)
Change since the base year
Percentage change in each sector, base year (1990 for most gases) to 2024. Red is a rise, green a fall.
Source: NI greenhouse gas inventory 1990–2024 statistical bulletin (DAERA/NISRA)
EU deforestation rules: what is in scope
Commodities covered by the EU Deforestation Regulation in NI and who enforces. Scope depends on the commodity code.
| Commodity | Examples | Enforcer |
|---|---|---|
| Cattle | Beef, hides, leather | DAERA |
| Cocoa | Chocolate, cocoa butter and powder | DAERA |
| Coffee | Roasted and green beans | DAERA |
| Oil palm | Palm oil and derivatives | DAERA |
| Soya | Soya beans, meal and oil (animal feed) | DAERA |
| Wood | Timber, furniture, pallets, paper and cartons | OPSS |
| Rubber | Tyres and rubber goods | OPSS |
Source: Deforestation-free products in NI (GOV.UK, updated 27 August 2026)
Deadlines
Dates that affect processors in the next 14 months.
| When | What | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 2026 | Packaging EPR fees recalculated for 2026/27 | Packaging producers |
| 30 Dec 2026 | EUDR applies in NI (medium and large businesses) | First placers of in-scope products |
| 31 Dec 2026 | ESOS phase 4 qualification date | 250+ staff, or >£44m turnover and >£38m balance sheet |
| 1 Jan 2027 | UK CBAM starts, including fertiliser imports | Importers; costs pass down the chain |
| 30 Jun 2027 | EUDR applies to most micro and small businesses | Smaller processors |
| Oct 2027 | Deposit return scheme goes live | Drinks producers and retailers |
| 5 Dec 2027 | ESOS phase 4 notification deadline | ESOS-qualifying businesses |
Source: Deforestation-free products in NI (GOV.UK, updated 27 August 2026); PackUK Year 2 (letsrecycle, 4 March 2026); Deposit Return Scheme (DAERA); ESOS phase 4 guidance (GOV.UK); CBAM for Northern Ireland businesses (April 2026); Food Waste Regulations (NI) 2015
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from these sources, checked on 20–21 October 2026. Figures marked "derived" are worked out from the published numbers. This is a dated snapshot: nothing is fetched or sent, and every chart can be downloaded as CSV.
- NI food and drinks processing sector 2019–2020 (DAERA, 25 August 2022)
- NI food and drinks processing sector 2022 (NISRA, 10 April 2025)
- NI-produced food sales top £7bn (Irish News, 10 April 2025)
- NI greenhouse gas inventory 1990–2024 statistical bulletin (DAERA/NISRA)
- Deforestation-free products in NI (GOV.UK, updated 27 August 2026)
- PackUK Year 2 (letsrecycle, 4 March 2026)
- Deposit Return Scheme (DAERA)
- ESOS phase 4 guidance (GOV.UK)
- CBAM for Northern Ireland businesses (April 2026)
- Food Waste Regulations (NI) 2015
Commentary: Focus on Food & Drink Processing, 24 October 2026. More dashboards: all dashboards.