Balance of International Payments
The Balance of Payments current account, a measure of Irelandâs economic flows with the rest of the world, showed a surplus of âŹ13.8bn in the first quarter of 2023 down âŹ3.2bn on the Q12022 surplus of âŹ17bn. This was due to reduced services and income balances which were partially offset by an increased merchandise balance.
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| Current Account |
Q4 2020 | 0.808201291059934 |
Q1 2021 | 16.8480902885159 |
Q2 2021 | 16.1198977086449 |
Q3 2021 | 19.7322326507056 |
Q4 2021 | 4.21303948476478 |
Q1 2022 | 14.4474627498572 |
Q2 2022 | 13.110471936425 |
Q3 2022 | -3.34419201460527 |
Q4 2022 | 12.1942440678879 |
Q1 2023 | 11.2052302846924 |
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normal
| Merchandise | Services | Primary Income | Secondary Income | Balance on Current Account |
Q4 2020 | 34.343 | -14.731 | -17.819 | -1.034 | 0.76 |
Q1 2021 | 42.057 | 5.491 | -29.221 | -1.273 | 17.054 |
Q2 2021 | 40.137 | 5.203 | -27.987 | -0.994 | 16.359 |
Q3 2021 | 44.823 | 5.146 | -26.622 | -0.68 | 22.666 |
Q4 2021 | 40.291 | -15.263 | -19.019 | -1.43 | 4.58 |
Q1 2022 | 47.784 | 5.442 | -34.986 | -1.198 | 17.043 |
Q2 2022 | 49.081 | 2.974 | -35.022 | -1.186 | 15.848 |
Q3 2022 | 53.546 | -18.491 | -38.401 | -1.135 | -4.48 |
Q4 2022 | 53.965 | -6.693 | -30.129 | -1.318 | 15.825 |
Q1 2023 | 56.099 | -1.481 | -39.592 | -1.19 | 13.836 |
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- Merchandise exports were âŹ88,802m in the first quarter of 2023, an increase of âŹ10,329m compared with the first quarter of 2022. Merchandise imports were âŹ32,703m in the first quarter of 2023, an increase of âŹ2,015m over the same period in 2022.
- Service exports at âŹ83,300m increased by âŹ5,344m compared to the first quarter of 2022, mainly due to higher Computer services exports (which increased by âŹ3,818m) and higher Transport and Travel services exports (which increased by âŹ824m and âŹ746m).
- Service imports at âŹ84,782m were up âŹ12,268m over the same period in 2022, mainly due to increased Royalty imports of âŹ8,224m and increased Travel and Business service imports (which grew by âŹ1,447m and âŹ1,549m).
- Irelandâs trade balance at âŹ54,617m, all goods and services exports less all goods and services imports, increased by âŹ1,390m in the first quarter of 2023 over the same period in 2022.
- Investment income earned abroad at âŹ45,881m, increased by âŹ14,699m compared with one year earlier while investment income payable to foreign investors at âŹ85,629m increased by âŹ19,292m. The overall income balance for the quarter at -âŹ40,781m decreased by âŹ4,597m compared with the same period in 2022.
normal
| Direct Investment | Portfolio Investment | Other Investment | Reserve Assets | Balance on Financial Account |
Q4 2020 | 4.172 | 16.581 | -10.78 | 0.396 | 10.371 |
Q1 2021 | 17.099 | 8.338 | -14.651 | 0.173 | 10.959 |
Q2 2021 | 4.815 | -4.667 | 22.982 | 0.072 | 23.203 |
Q3 2021 | 7.198 | -10.624 | 13.61 | 4.081 | 14.264 |
Q4 2021 | 24.134 | 0.872 | -13.21 | 0.654 | 12.45 |
Q1 2022 | 9.8 | -36.091 | 37.62 | -0.129 | 11.2 |
Q2 2022 | 24.456 | -32.643 | 14.707 | 0.033 | 6.553 |
Q3 2022 | -49.11 | -47.852 | 76.996 | 0.603 | -19.364 |
Q4 2022 | 18.511 | -20.69 | 25.988 | -0.022 | 23.787 |
Q1 2023 | 7.923 | -27.242 | 29.259 | 0.011 | 9.951 |
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- Direct investment in Ireland increased by âŹ1,854m in the first quarter of 2023. This was due to increased equity and other capital of âŹ8,955m and âŹ1,968m which were offset by decreased reinvestment of earnings of âŹ9,069m. Direct investment abroad increased by âŹ9,777m in the quarter, mainly due to increased reinvestment of earnings and equity investment.
- Portfolio investment in foreign assets decreased by âŹ12,471m in the quarter due to a decrease in investment in foreign debt instruments of âŹ32,173m which was offset by increased equity of âŹ19,702m. Portfolio investment in Ireland increased by âŹ14,771m due to increased investment in equity and debt instruments of âŹ7,723m and âŹ7,049m.
- Other investment assets grew by âŹ23,212m while other investment liabilities decreased by âŹ6,047m in the first quarter of 2023.
Table 1.2 Summary of Current, Capital and Financial Account Balances
Table 1.3 Current and Capital Accounts
Table 1.4 Financial Account
Table 1.5 Current, Capital and Financial Account activity classified by Institutional Sector
Table 1.6 Current and Capital Accounts showing geographical detail
Table 1.7 Financial Account showing geographical detail
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