Irish dairy and specialised nutrition exports to the Middle East are not currently being significantly impacted by conflict in the region, according to Dairy Industry Ireland (DII).

Joint US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, followed by retaliatory strikes by Tehran, have led to the closure of various airspaces across the region in recent days.

The conflict has led to the cancellation of thousands of flights and disruption to shipping. There has also been a spike in global oil prices.

Middle East

The Middle East is a major global business and transit hub for goods and energy products.

According to latest Bord Bia estimates, Irish food and drink exports to the Gulf region reached €370 million in 2025 - which represented a year-on-year increase of 7.5%.

Commenting on the current situation in the Middle East, Conor Mulvihill, director of Dairy Industry Ireland, said:

"While our dairy and specialised nutrition exports are currently moving without significant disruption, we are not complacent and are monitoring the geopolitical situation hour-by-hour."

Supply chains

Mulvihill added: "The real challenge at present lies in the mounting pressure on global supply chains and the inevitable spike in shipping and energy costs.

"We are working closely with government, in the EU and with our members to mitigate these overheads and ensure the continued flow of high-quality Irish nutrition to the region."

The DII director said that "Irish dairy is a vital resource for Middle Eastern consumers".

"We are committed to maintaining that bridge despite the volatility.

"In turn, the Middle East is a key region for our dairy and specialised nutrition exports to the region growing strongly in recent years.

"We will continue to provide regular updates as the situation evolves, keeping resilience and safety at the heart of our strategy," Mulvihill said.