Balance of International Payments
The Balance of Payments current account, a measure of Ireland’s economic flows with the rest of the world, showed a deficit of €4.48bn in the third quarter of 2022. Increased R&D related IP imports have contributed to the current account deficit.
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| Current Account |
| Q2 2020 | 13.2746204617677 |
| Q3 2020 | 9.87812279310573 |
| Q4 2020 | 0.808201291059934 |
| Q1 2021 | 16.8480902885159 |
| Q2 2021 | 16.1198977086449 |
| Q3 2021 | 19.7322326507056 |
| Q4 2021 | 4.21303948476478 |
| Q1 2022 | 14.4521849337661 |
| Q2 2022 | 13.1058684144742 |
| Q3 2022 | -3.34580087887598 |
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normal
| Merchandise | Services | Primary Income | Secondary Income | Balance on Current Account |
| Q2 2020 | 34.266 | 0.39 | -22.443 | -0.974 | 11.239 |
| Q3 2020 | 37.465 | 2.502 | -29.253 | -0.727 | 9.987 |
| 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 |
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- Merchandise exports were €92,641m in the third quarter of 2022, an increase of €20,944m compared with the third quarter of 2021. Merchandise imports were €39,095m in the third quarter of 2022, an increase of €12,221m over the same period in 2021.
- Service exports at €85,888m increased by €11,887m compared to the third quarter of 2021, mainly due to higher Computer services exports (which increased by €5,600m) and higher Transport and Tourism services exports (which increased by €1,972m and €1,217m respectively).
- Service imports at €104,379m were up €35,524m over the same period in 2021, mainly due to higher R&D related IP imports and higher miscellaneous business services imports (which increased by €24,306m and €3,549m respectively).
- Ireland’s trade balance at €35,055m, all goods and services exports less all goods and services imports, decreased by €14,913m in the third quarter of 2022 over the same period in 2021.
- Investment income earned abroad at €32,716m, increased by €6,712m compared with one year earlier while investment income payable to foreign investors at €71,298m increased by €18,466m. The overall income balance for the quarter at -€39,536m decreased by €12,234m compared with the same period in 2021.
normal
| Direct Investment | Portfolio Investment | Other Investment | Reserve Assets | Balance on Financial Account |
| Q2 2020 | -51.183 | 49.413 | 12.891 | -0.014 | 11.107 |
| Q3 2020 | -12.829 | -2.917 | 16.683 | 0.761 | 1.697 |
| 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 |
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- Direct investment in Ireland increased by €36,807m in the third quarter of 2022. This was due to increased equity and reinvestment of earnings of €21,573m and €21,182m which were offset by decreased other capital of €5,946m. Direct investment abroad decreased by €12,302m in the quarter, mainly due to a decrease in equity and other capital investment.
- Portfolio investment in foreign assets decreased by €45,681m in the quarter due to a decrease in investment in foreign equity and foreign debt instruments of €16,961m and €28,720m. Portfolio investment in Ireland increased by €2,171m due to increased investment in equity instruments of €8,829m which was offset by a decrease in investment in debt instruments of €6,657m.
- Other investment assets and liabilities increased by €88,720m and €11,724m respectively in the third quarter of 2022.
Show Table: Table 1.2 Summary of Current, Capital and Financial Account Balances
Show Table: Table 1.3 Current and Capital Accounts
Show Table: Table 1.4 Financial Account
Show Table: Table 1.5 – Current, Capital and Financial Account activity classified by Institutional Sector
Show Table: Table 1.6 Current and Capital Accounts showing geographical detail
Show Table: Table 1.7 Financial Account showing geographical detail