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Trade

Trade

CSO statistical release, , 11am
Economic and Social Change in Ireland from 1973-2023

Charting some of the changes in Ireland’s economic and social history to mark 50 years of Ireland in the EU.

Goods, Exports, and Imports 1973-2022

Between 1973 and 2022 the value of goods exported rose from €1.1 billion to €208.6 billion.

In 1973 Ireland imported more merchandise than it exported. The value of imports rose from €1.4 billion in 1973 to €141 billion in 2022. Imports exceeded €100 billion for the first time in 2021 to €103.8 billion. The year 2022 represented the highest level of exports and imports on record.

The Trade in Goods balance (exports minus imports) changed from a deficit of €340 million in 1973 to a surplus of €67.6 billion in 2022.

57%
Increase in exports of chemical products from 1973 to 2022
The value of exports increased from €74 million to €134 billion in that time
Source: CSO Ireland, Ireland and the EU at 50

In 1973, Food & Live Animals comprised 41% of Ireland’s total exports and were valued at €447 million. In 2022, Food & Live Animals made up of 7.1% of Ireland’s total exports which were valued at €14.8 billion.

Exports of Chemical products accounted for just 7% of exports in 1973and were valued at €74 million with Medicinal & Pharmaceutical Products making up 2.6% of this. In 2022 Chemicals & Related Products accounted for 64% of total exports and were valued at €134 billion, with Medicinal & Pharmaceutical Products making up 38.4% of our total exports.

Exports of Machinery & Transport Equipment grew from 10% of total exports in 1973 valued at €109 million to 14% in 2002 with a value of €28 billion in 2022.

Figure 9.1 Exports by Product 1973 - 2022

Imports of Machinery & Transport Equipment rose from 27% of total imports in 1973 to 37.2% in 2022 but the value rose from €390 million to €52.4 billion. Imports of Food & Live Animals has remained constantly at around 10% of total imports, though in 2022 this fell to 6.8%. However, it has grown in value from €151 million in 1973 to a high of €9.6 billion in 2022.

Figure 9.2 Imports by Product 1973 - 2022

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