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KERRYGOLD OWNERS HAVE said they are hopeful a “negotiated solution” can be reached between the EU and United States over new looming tariffs, as the company’s major US market is set to be impacted by the increased import charges.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump introduced a series of new tariffs, including a 20% duty on various EU products exported to the US. This is expected to affect approximately €4.2 billion worth of daily trade between the EU and the United States.
Practically, it means Irish dairy goods on US supermarket shelves will rise in price significantly.
Ireland is known for its dairy production – an estimated 266m tonnes of butter is produced here each year, with brands such as Kerrygold establishing loyal customer bases in the US.
Kerrygold parent company Ornua, Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products, said that they “regret” the decision by the US administration to implement these new tariffs, which they warn may impact US consumers and Irish dairy farmers.
“Our products are subject to US import duties and additional tariffs will have a negative impact on our business, on our US consumers, and on the dairy farmers who supply Kerrygold,” the company said.
Kerrygold is currently the second-biggest butter brand in the US – making it one of Ireland’s most valuable exports across the Atlantic.
“We will endeavour to ensure Kerrygold butter and cheese continues to offer US consumers a unique proposition,” Ornua said.
“The US will remain a very important market for Ornua, and we are committed to further investing in our businesses there, and meeting the needs of our wonderful US consumers who love Irish grassfed dairy.”
Dairy makes up a significant portion of Ireland’s total food exports to the US - milk, cheese and butter exports to the United States were valued at €830 million last year.
Together with alcohol exports, estimated to be worth €900 million, these sectors represented 91% of total food and drink exports to the US.
The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) warned this week that the competitiveness of Irish products, including Kerrygold, are set to be impacted on the US market.
They also claimed that the differing tariffs for other countries will dimish Ireland’s competitive edge in the US market.
“The fact that New Zealand only has a 10% tariff for dairy products and the UK only has a 10% tariff on drinks, while the EU will have 20% tariffs, will leave us at a competitive disadvantage against some of our biggest competitors in these two sectors,” an IFA spokesperson said.
Speaking to RTÉ News, Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association president Denis Drennan said that despite the concern over US tariffs, “the underlying strength of our products and farmers should ensure that we are well placed to ride this out until the situation becomes clearer and more stable”.
“The reputation of our cheese and butter, specifically Kerrygold, stands very high among top-end US consumers and there is some confidence that premium products like Kerrygold are inelastic in terms of demand and not overly subject to price-pressure”, Drennan added.
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This hasn’t stopped Kerrygold butter price increase of approximately 25, percentage in the past 12 months. it only increased in price by ten percent last week alone. We are being ripped off.
@Michael Ryan: food commodity prices have risen sharply in the last 6 months because of reduced production.
@Michael Ryan: indeed it sadness me I can’t buy it anymore so now I’m settled for Lidl or Aldi’s own brands which are good enough but they’re no Kerrygold
@Chris: Kerrygold produce the lidl brand.
@Michael Ryan: I will support them in these tough times and only buy Kerry.
Price gouging Kerry gold. It was €5.29 for a while a few months back. Then they reduced it.
@Orban Orban: It’s cheaper in Germany than here :)… Our elected blight cant even give us a deal on our own products. I wonder can we get access to the £1 paracetamol when big pharma bails. Doubt it, if anything the government will use it to make money, which there already legislating for in other areas.
@Orban Orban: it’s now €5.45. In Dunnes anyway
@Conor Mc: should be €3 a lb max
@Orban Orban: 5.29 in aldi yesterday
@Orban Orban: It was €5.49 today in Tesco.
@Orban Orban: Price gouging is an economic myth which is only spouted by those who don’t understand supply and demand. If companies like KerryGold were truly free to gouge prices at will, they’d be selling butter at luxury perfume prices. Farm gate prices (what farmers get) are tightly monitored or even fixed. In many countries (Ireland included), price supports, quotas, subsidies and quality standards massively limit pricing freedom. Dairy exports are regulated and import competition also keeps prices in check. It is impossible for price gouging to occur. The reason that KerryGold prices have increased is because feed costs are up, fuel costs have spiked, packaging, transport, and labor costs have surged across the board and fertilising costs have stayed high due to the Ukraine War.
@Orban Orban: Lads it’s the equivalent of €3.87 here in Melbourne, something’s not right
So it’s basicly Kerrygold and Jameson….. Sure those two are not going to have us grovelling are they? How much profits are they going to lose and does Irelands citizens need to be punished for this?
@peter willekens: Jamesons is French.
@Thesaltyurchin: makes no difference, I’m sure the profit margins will stay the same but they lay off a few workers, nó pay rises, “streamline the company” and implement whatever else but will be part/dictate/influence our governments negotiating with Trump. Even though it won’t be in the interest of the average person in Ireland.
@peter willekens: Maybe a good opportunity to get a deal for Irish Distillers (parent company). Perhaps a bit of a wild grasp that we would own such a thing! :) (free bottle at Christmas in the terms)
@Thesaltyurchin: bottle of Jameson for everybody in the audience (think of me next election)…………………
@peter willekens: You’ll have my vote sir!
@Thesaltyurchin: :)
Irish sheeple wake up and remember that Martin stated in Dáil Éireann that he doesn’t want anything to do with a backwards looking idea of sovereignty in May 2017 in the presence of then EU commissioner Micheal Barnier. Irish political establishment parties chose Europe over Irish people needs with Nice and Lisbon treaties reruns, Troika Bank Bailout and 10 years of austerity after bailing out Franco German Banks by the Irish taxpayers picked up 42% of EU banking debt. Mass migration and COVID. does one honesty think the Irish based euro file eunuchs will suddenly change course and back Irish people for a change even as France and Germany want to impose Tariffs on Irish Tech and Pharma sectors shows up the Irish taxpayers will suffer again..
@Ailbhe MacThomais: you’re right. FFG are only interested in their own careers and wealth. They couldn’t care less about Irish people.
Kerrygold is an absolute rip off. Sure don’t you know they’ll increase the price here again and blame it on trump
@Old Times: They already have
President Trump is not for changing folks so Irish politicans will need to speak up for their own Country now rather that siding with the EU.Our Gov were handing out money left right and center over the last few years and I am delighted that Trump has called their bluff with the tariffs . God bles the USA and President Trump. He will go down as the greatest
@linda o keeffe: why do you — and trump — always write the word country with a capital letter? As for trump tariffs/taxes on Americans, you’re seeing the consequences live lol
@linda o keeffe: Just sad trolling.
@linda o keeffe: Oh, he’ll go down in the history books alright. 100 yrs from now, people will be astounded someone like him could be in office.
@Housing Hunger Games: shes uneducated. They all are.
@linda o keeffe: ok Buster
@sean weir: it’s most definitely NOT OK brenny……..that orange lunatic is teeing off on one of his golf resorts in Florida while the world is in flux. Great to read of over 1200 protests against the man baby in the US today
@sean weir: sean & linda— I assume your incessant adoration of that sex offender & tarrif loon shows your accounts are all belong to the resident multi account troll?
@Mary Linton: looks that way….hard to fathom any Irish citizen could really idolise a crazed sex offender that much. Over on trustpilot he refers to himself as ” KING of trolling”
@Daniel Roche: Freedom of speech …We all have the right to express our opinions
@linda o keeffe: Your correct Linda ignore them
Been out east on a few occasions recently (Thailand, Vietnam) the only trace of Irish is Kerrygold, it’s pretty phenomenal how far it’s travelled, no whiskey (which I was expecting, not even in duty frees). no Bailiys, but you can buy Kerrygold in the local supermarket, lol.
@Thesaltyurchin: in my home country everyone uses kerry gold. Very nice butters
We are awash with butter and milk yet as consumers get hammered on a regular basis
Amin to the emirati in Dubai paying our petrol prices
@Dr Albert S Meinheimer: Akin. Idi Amin had nothing to do with butter
I suppose everything will go up in price and the wages will stay the same thanks to Mr.Trump.
Connaught Gold is better.
@Fergus O’Donnell: cheaper ??
@Dr Albert S Meinheimer: €4.39 in Supervalu.
Irish political class sold out Irish people at every turn. Fishing,oil and gas given away in joining the EEC in 1973. Nice and Lisbon treaties results were deliberately ignored. VRT tax is illegal but pay a fine out of the money raised each year. Bank Bailout/ Troika. Apple Tax they refused to collect. mass migration during COVID. Now France and Germany gunning for Irish based Tech and Pharma sectors shows up the Irish political establishment class are wedded to Europe and like examples shown won’t be of any use to the Irish taxpayers.
There must be no taxpayer bailout for Kerrygold, Jameson, Tayto, or any other brand that we already cannot afford to buy ourselves Ireland because of money grubbing greed by owners and shareholders.
@Luas Vuitton – Penneys Drag Queen: I don’t think that Pernod Ricard, the owner of Jameson, with a value of €23.07 billion will be looking for a government handout.
@Pat Barry: corporate welfare is NEVER turned down.
I think they have a Tarrif on it here Where its actually made…the bloody Price of it!
Well done President Trump fantastic to see these companies taken down a peg or two.
One positive aspect of the US tariffs is that we won’t have the cash to spend on disposable crap. Crap we end up paying for twice, because we have to pay to get rid of most of it.
@Fiona: I admire your optimism. lol.
@Fergus O’Donnell: fingers crossed : )
Don’t worry the Irish people will cover it all. Corporations only make profit in Ireland.
it’s a bit of a “Last Tango” serrano this butter malarkey
@N Sweeney: you know Trump uses Kerrygold for fake tan, right? Half a pound each morning followed by 10 minutes in the trouser press. Melania is ragin’ over the pillow cases.
@Luas Vuitton – Penneys Drag Queen: yawn
Cobblers! If, as the producers contend, these are high end premium products there sales will not be much effected.
If they are then there will be more for sale here and the price will come down for us lucky people@
Impact my back lower your prices good butter but typical rip off Ireland prices
Could ye put a bit of a subsidy on the butthur, Pascal.
I was shocked to see the price of Kerry gold butter go up to 5.45 for a pound of it. Feels like we will pay for the US tariffs.
Lidl butter better and waaay cheaper
Americans purchase nearly 3 million sticks of KerryGold butter every week, so I do hope that some sort of agreement is reached between the EU and America very soon. Tariffs are not taxes on foreign governments or companies. They’re taxes on consumers and businesses in the importing country. When American tariffs hit KerryGold, who pays? American consumers, American retailers and American distributors. KerryGold is one of the most successful global agri-food brands Ireland has ever produced. It commands a premium, it’s loved in America and it’s one of the few true export success stories that hasn’t been gutted by overregulation. My concern is that the EU will make things as awkward as possible because they are happy that French and German butter might have an opening in the American market.
have your say