22 May 2019
Go to release: Trade by Enterprise Characteristics 2017
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (22 May 2019) published Trade by Enterprise Characteristics 2017.
This publication analyses Ireland’s goods exports and imports for 2017 focussing on the type of enterprises trading. The enterprises are classified by activity sector and employment size, with data on both the value of the trade, and the number of enterprises in each category.
Commenting on the figures, Statistician Ciarán Counihan said: “Ireland exported over €121 billion of goods in 2017, and €31 billion of that was exported by just five enterprises.
More than two-thirds of goods exports in 2017 were from large enterprises,and about a third (33%) of exports were from SMEs (up to 249 employees).
Almost two-thirds (65%) of goods imports arrived to SMEs. Micro enterprises, which have less than ten employees, accounted for one-fifth of imports, while large enterprises accounted for a third of imported goods.
The Pharmaceutical sector is the largest exporting sector, with €53 billion of exports, while the largest importing sector is Wholesale/Retail, which imported almost €27 billion in 2017.”
Orla McCarthy (+353) 1 498 4091 or Ciaran Counihan (+353) 1 498 4215
or email trade@cso.ie
-- ENDS --