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Accounts with the UK

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Current account with the UK shows a deficit of €0.4bn in Quarter 1 2022

MerchandiseServicesIncomeCurrent Account
Q4 2019-1.0563.918-2.520.342
Q1 2020-0.6563.419-3.162-0.399
Q2 2020-0.7513.432-2.4620.219
Q3 2020-0.5664.149-2.0381.546
Q4 2020-1.6543.867-1.7240.49
Q1 20211.3053.576-1.4833.398
Q2 20210.0854.177-2.9931.267
Q3 20210.0713.963-3.2350.8
Q4 2021-0.9645.267-2.8961.407
Q1 2022-1.4364.225-3.156-0.367

Current account with the UK (See Table 3.1)

  • Merchandise exports were €6,950m in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of €1,456m compared with the first quarter of 2021.
  • Merchandise imports were €8,386m in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of €4,197m compared with the first quarter of 2021.
  • Services exports at €9,940m increased by €1,018m compared to the first quarter of 2021, mainly due to computer and business exports.
  • Services imports at €5,715m were up €369m over that same period in 2021, these figures were affected by increased levels of business and transport costs.
  • Investment income earned in the UK at €5,640m, decreased by €155m compared with one year earlier while investment income payable to the UK investors at €8,829m increased by €1,515m.
  • When these effects are combined, the trade balance with the UK has decreased by €2,093m and net income outflows have increased by €1,673m, compared with the first quarter of 2021. The result is a current account balance deficit of €367m in the first quarter of 2022, down from a current account balance of €3,398m in the first quarter of 2021.

The experimental table on foreign direct investment with the UK (See Table 3.2); shows that direct investment in Ireland from the UK has decreased by €1,150m in the first quarter of 2022 mainly due to decreases in equity and reinvested earnings. Direct investment abroad from Ireland to the UK has also decreased by €81m in the first quarter of 2022.

Table 3.1 Current Account with the UK

Table 3.2 Foreign Direct Investment with the UK