<P> New sources are expected to come on stream after 2010, including the Corrib gas field and potentially the Shannon Liquefied Natural Gas terminal . In its Globalization Index 2010 published in January 2011 Ernst and Young with the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Ireland second after Hong Kong . The index ranks 60 countries according to their degree of globalisation relative to their GDP . While the Irish economy has significant debt problems in 2011, exporting remains a success . </P> <P> The primary sector constitutes about 5% of Irish GDP, and 8% of Irish employment . Ireland's main economic resource is its large fertile pastures, particularly the midland and southern regions . In 2012 Ireland exported approximately € 9 billion worth of agri - food and drink (about 8.4% of Ireland's exports), mainly as cattle, beef, and dairy products . Ireland's agri - food exports are expected to grow and are led by a number of large Irish companies including Kerry Group, Glanbia and Greencore . </P> <P> In the late nineteenth century, the island was mostly deforested . In 2005, after years of national afforestation programmes, about 9% of Ireland has become forested . It is still one of the least forested countries in the EU and heavily relies on imported wood . Its coastline--once abundant in fish, particularly cod--has suffered overfishing and since 1995 the fisheries industry has focused more on aquaculture . Freshwater salmon and trout stocks in Ireland's waterways have also been depleted but are being better managed . Ireland is a major exporter of zinc to the EU and mining also produces significant quantities of lead and alumina . </P> <P> Beyond this, the country has significant deposits of gypsum, limestone, and smaller quantities of copper, silver, gold, barite, and dolomite . Peat extraction has historically been important, especially from midland bogs, however more efficient fuels and environmental protection of bogs has reduced peat's importance to the economy . Natural gas extraction occurs in the Kinsale Gas Field and the Corrib Gas Field in the southern and western counties, where there is 19.82 bn cubic metres of proven reserves . </P>

Two current trends affecting the primary sector in ireland