271,766 live sheep were imported by Ireland in 2025, figures provided by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine show.

This is down from the figure of 365,613 head imported in 2024, and 429,802 in 2023.

In 2018, there were 517,182 live sheep imported by Ireland.

Last year, 12,602 live sheep were exported from Ireland.

This is down significantly from 2024 when 47,240 were exported, representing a drop of over 73%.

In 2023, 27,110 were exported.

Import and export figures

Based on recent data extracted from the EU TRACES database used to record consignments, the table below shows the annual quantities of live sheep movements into and out of the state for the years 2017 to 2025 inclusive.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said that all live animals being consigned into and out of the state must travel with a health certificate validated by an official veterinarian.

This must specify that the animals satisfy the basic animal health requirements set out in relevant EU regulations.

"My department does not retain information on veterinary certification for sheep consigned prior to 2017 and does not record the value or animal type of live sheep exported from or imported into Ireland," Minister Heydon said.