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Material Flow Accounts 2023

Key Findings

Ireland’s material imports were more than twice the volume of exports in 2023

Online ISSN: 2009-888X

CSO statistical release, 10 July 2025, 11am

Key Findings

Trade import volumes were 42.3 million tonnes in 2023, down 4.8% on 2022. Trade export volumes were 18.1 million tonnes in 2023, down 5.2% in 2023. Raw products accounted for 41% of imports but only 11% of exports in 2023 (See Table 3).
A total 96.5 million tonnes of raw materials were extracted from the Irish environment in 2023, down 3.1% on 2022. This includes items like Crops, Sand, Gravel, Natural Gas and Peat (See Table 1 and 2).
Over half (55%) of these raw materials were related to construction, including 22.9 million tonnes of Sand and Gravel and 24 million tonnes of Crushed Rock. Both fell slightly compared with their 2022 figures (See Table 2).
Farming played an important role, with 40.9 million tonnes of raw materials coming from Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing in 2023, which represents 42.4% of total resource extraction. This includes Grazed Grass (or Grazed Biomass) at 23.1 million tonnes and Fodder Crops at 11.2 million tonnes (See Table 2).
Fossil Fuel production in Ireland remains low, with 1.5 million tonnes extracted in 2023. This includes 847,000 tonnes of Natural Gas and 615,000 tonnes of Peat (See Table 2).
Ireland used 120.7 million tonnes of raw materials in total in 2023, down 3.4% from the previous year (See Table 1).
In 2023, the amount of material released back into the environment, mostly through Air Emissions went down, falling by 7.2% from 54.7 million tonnes in 2022 to 50.8 million tonnes (See Table 1).

Statistician's Comment

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (10 July 2025) published Material Flow Accounts 2023.

Commenting on the release Reamonn McKeever, Statistician in the Environment Division, said: “Ireland took slightly less materials from the environment in 2023. Domestic resource extraction fell by 3.1% from 99.6 million tonnes in 2022 to 96.5 million tonnes in 2023.

This decrease was mainly due to lower extraction of Non-Metallic Minerals, Metals and Fossil Fuels. Non-Metallic Minerals fell by 6% from 56.4 million tonnes in 2022 to 53 million tonnes in 2023. Metal extraction fell sharply by 47.7% from 2.1 million tonnes to 1.1 million tonnes. Fossil Fuel extraction also decreased, falling by 15.1% from 1.7 million tonnes in 2022 to 1.5 million tonnes in 2023.

Farming played an important role, with 40.9 million tonnes of materials coming from Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing in 2023. This includes Grazed Grass at 23.1 million tonnes and Fodder Crops at 11.2 million tonnes.

Total materials used in the economy (Domestic Material Consumption) was 120.7 million tonnes in 2023, down from a peak of 187.8 million in 2007, but higher than the low of 95.4 million tonnes in 2011.

In 2023, the amount of material released back into the environment, mostly through Air Emissions went down, falling by 7.2% from 54.7 million tonnes in 2022 to 50.8 million tonnes.

Air emissions accounted for 74% of all materials which were released back into the environment after being used in the domestic economy.

The amount of material added to the economy such as new building, roads and other infrastructure went down from 65.3 million tonnes in 2022 to 62.9 million tonnes in 2023. Net Material Accumulation (NMA) decreased from 65.3 million tonnes in 2022 to 62.9 million tonnes in 2023.”

Editor's Note

Fodder Crop and Grazed Biomass figures were revised from last year’s report due to the adoption of a new methodological approach.

More information is available in the Background Notes.

Figure 1 shows the total materials that were used in the economy, known as Domestic Material Consumption (DMC), from 1994-2023 in tonnes. DMC is broken down into its main components: Domestic Extraction, Imports and Exports (in volumes). As can be seen from this graph, variations in Domestic Extraction are the main driver of the trends displayed by the DMC figures.

	Domestic Material Consumption	Domestic Extraction	Imports	Exports
1994	95.7	81.1	24.7	10.1
1995	96.2	82.6	24.4	10.8
1996	100.6	85.8	25.2	10.4
1997	105.6	89.8	27.2	11.5
1998	114.1	95.9	30.3	12.2
1999	124	106.5	29.6	12.1
2000	135.7	117.2	31.9	13.5
2001	136.6	117.7	31.7	12.8
2002	138.8	118.1	34.3	13.6
2003	159.7	139.2	33	12.5
2004	168.8	146.3	36.7	14.2
2005	170.7	147.3	37.5	14.2
2006	180	155.9	38.8	14.7
2007	187.8	160.2	42.3	14.7
2008	163.1	139.1	38.9	14.9
2009	124.9	104.7	33.4	13.2
2010	110.4	89.3	35.8	14.7
2011	95.4	76.2	34.9	15.7
2012	95.7	77.3	34.8	16.4
2013	102.2	81.3	36.6	15.7
2014	100	80.3	36.4	16.7
2015	103.3	82.6	39.1	18.5
2016	110.8	90.9	38.7	18.8
2017	117	95.1	40.3	18.5
2018	124.5	99	43.9	18.3
2019	127.1	103.9	41.5	18.3
2020	118.3	96.3	40.5	18.6
2021	118.7	94.3	43.7	19.3
2022	125	99.6	44.5	19.1
2023	120.7	96.5	42.3	18.1

Table 1 shows the main components of net addition to the stock of materials in the economy, or Net Material Accumulation (NMA), from 2014-2023. NMA measures the net change in materials within the economy and shows how much material is added to the economy’s stock over time.

Table 1: Net Material Accumulation 2014-2023

Table 1: Net Material Accumulation 2014- 2023
million tonnes
Description	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023

Domestic Extraction	80.3	82.6	90.9	95.1	99.0	103.9	96.3	94.3	99.6	96.5
Biomass	41.4	40.9	40.0	40.5	39.1	40.8	40.3	40.6	39.4	40.9
Metallic Minerals	3.7	3.4	2.6	2.3	2.2	2.5	2.3	2.1	2.1	1.1
Non-Metallic Minerals	29.7	33.9	42.0	45.4	50.5	56.2	51.3	49.7	56.4	53.0
Fossil Fuels	5.5	4.5	6.3	6.9	7.2	4.5	2.4	1.7	1.7	1.5

+ Trade Imports	36.4	39.1	38.7	40.3	43.9	41.5	40.5	43.7	44.5	42.3
Biomass	9.8	10.2	10.8	11.5	14.0	12.9	12.8	11.8	12.9	12.9
Metallic Minerals	6.2	6.8	6.9	7.1	7.1	7.7	7.3	8.6	8.0	6.6
Non-Metallic Minerals	3.8	4.0	4.2	4.8	5.6	5.0	5.3	6.1	6.0	5.6
Fossil Fuels	14.7	16.1	14.5	14.6	14.8	13.5	12.4	14.5	15.0	14.6
Other Products	1.9	2.0	2.2	2.3	2.4	2.4	2.6	2.7	2.5	2.6

- Trade Exports	16.7	18.5	18.8	18.5	18.3	18.3	18.6	19.3	19.1	18.1
Biomass	6.3	6.7	6.9	7.3	7.5	8.0	7.8	7.9	8.0	7.9
Metallic Minerals	3.6	3.4	3.3	3.4	3.4	3.4	3.0	3.6	3.3	2.8
Non-Metallic Minerals	2.5	3.4	3.8	3.3	3.2	2.9	3.0	3.4	3.3	3.3
Fossil Fuels	3.2	3.8	3.6	3.3	2.9	2.8	3.4	3.0	3.1	2.7
Other Products	1.1	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.3	1.4	1.4	1.4

= Domestic Material Consumption	100.0	103.3	110.8	117.0	124.5	127.1	118.3	118.7	125.0	120.7
Biomass	44.8	44.4	43.9	44.7	45.6	45.7	45.3	44.5	44.4	45.9
Metallic Minerals	6.4	6.8	6.2	6.0	5.9	6.7	6.7	7.2	6.7	5.0
Non-Metallic Minerals	31.0	34.5	42.4	46.9	52.8	58.3	53.5	52.4	59.1	55.3
Fossil Fuels	17.0	16.7	17.3	18.2	19.1	15.3	11.4	13.3	13.7	13.3
Other Products	0.8	0.9	1.0	1.1	1.1	1.2	1.3	1.3	1.1	1.2

- Domestic Processed Output	52.9	54.3	56.6	55.8	56.2	54.1	52.4	55.6	54.7	50.8
Emissions to Air	40.0	41.9	43.8	42.7	42.8	41.0	38.9	41.3	40.7	37.4
Waste Landfilled (uncontrolled)	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Emissions to Water	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Dissipative Use of Products	12.9	12.4	12.8	13.1	13.4	13.0	13.4	14.2	14.0	13.3

+ Balancing Items Input Side	63.9	66.5	69.7	69.0	69.2	67.1	64.6	66.7	66.9	63.6
- Balancing Items Output Side	69.5	70.4	72.8	73.1	73.2	72.6	71.0	71.2	71.9	70.7

= Net Material Accumulation	41.4	45.0	51.0	57.1	64.3	67.5	59.5	58.6	65.3	62.9

Open in Excel: Material Flow Accounts 2023 Table 1 (XLS 11KB)

Figure 2 shows the total material resources we use in the economy (DMC) figures for Ireland for the 1994-2023 period broken down into Biomass, Metallic Minerals, Non-Metallic Minerals, Fossil Fuels and Other Products. As can be seen from this graph, the biggest contributor to DMC was Non-Metallic Minerals which are used in construction such as Marble, Limestone, Sand, Gravel and Crushed Rock.

	Non Metallic Minerals	Biomass	Fossil Fuels	Metallic Minerals	Other Products
1994	30.19693	43.5075587954218	17.5769996811536	4.07411676470588	0.314667
1995	29.058376	43.9738249849054	18.1108116419472	4.67872194117647	0.390209
1996	35.316838	43.9393373509158	16.5446897657072	4.52577335294118	0.30594
1997	40.205307	45.2269427766279	14.966616679264	4.81315317647059	0.34077
1998	47.335114	45.1584573126093	15.2429239641008	5.80157864705882	0.518285
1999	56.432651	45.4894721303284	15.9709000694384	5.72135988235294	0.40092
2000	67.405889	45.744175820437	16.0079074922064	5.93786717647059	0.554256
2001	68.105626	45.587627893785	15.713991891356	6.12722488235294	1.062869
2002	70.718913	44.9509270649822	13.6067636428912	6.4277215882353	3.095537
2003	87.769221	45.406857369827	17.3325139470952	7.652298	1.579992
2004	95.594481	45.9418594423176	18.836752241852	7.73223311764706	0.679203
2005	101.379745	42.8159393966292	17.7780404248721	7.94843782352941	0.73188
2006	114.311594	40.1672964320622	16.3200951097213	8.33077341176471	0.851927
2007	117.958652	42.0163789296661	18.2063170331177	8.71851635294118	0.895365
2008	94.65806	41.6764949176628	18.2463838916956	7.314473	1.178154
2009	59.644176	41.6079146369011	16.975650525538	6.08513688235294	0.591118
2010	40.773548	43.2046671582245	18.9955263003255	6.98586258823529	0.470993
2011	28.431749	43.2624607661179	17.1178768659788	6.08519967647059	0.498544
2012	32.230373	43.1195710226242	13.4901053509153	6.44809805882353	0.393839
2013	30.909834	44.4769846182912	19.9672926696123	6.23592005882353	0.629963
2014	30.988013	44.8030135048432	17.0193766213241	6.35228529411765	0.8335
2015	34.467785	44.4254731361356	16.7450984181157	6.77299688235294	0.855136
2016	42.429031	43.8767081045781	17.2635349937472	6.19259276470588	1.044723
2017	46.919485	44.6855553467728	18.2348514755116	6.03000041176471	1.125681
2018	52.822295	45.634483497677	19.0718868216675	5.86604811764706	1.147992
2019	58.269438	45.6902639340237	15.2626487745385	6.72420841176471	1.156964
2020	53.516771	45.3293638163025	11.4191432894085	6.66950505882353	1.326037
2021	52.398997	44.4909022642964	13.2941923993688	7.2083104117647	1.328288
2022	59.079855	44.3596039074389	13.6762652655465	6.72762688235294	1.147355
2023	55.2996	45.921421962347	13.347189899035	4.96787441176471	1.209459

Figure 3 shows the most important contributors to the domestic extraction of raw materials in Ireland over the 1994-2023 period. Sand and Gravel and Crushed Rock are the most important categories, peaking in 2007 and falling to a low in 2011 before rising afterwards.

Grazed Grass and Fodder Crops are also the other most important items in domestic extraction and these figures are less volatile than Non-Metallic Minerals, varying according to differences in the amount of land involved and yields recorded each year.

	Crushed Rock	Sand and Gravel	Grazed Biomass	Fodder Crops
1994	12.8	14.2	22.5	11.7
1995	12.5	12.3	22.8	11.7
1996	15.6	14.2	22.3	11.7
1997	19.4	15.7	22.9	12.7
1998	27.8	14.5	22.9	11.8
1999	33.2	16.5	22.8	11.5
2000	39.5	20.6	22.3	12.2
2001	39.9	20.8	22.8	11.9
2002	40.4	23.7	22.3	12.3
2003	51.7	27.9	22.2	12.1
2004	55.7	31.8	21.9	11.9
2005	59.1	33.6	20.3	12.1
2006	68.1	35.7	19.7	11.5
2007	68.6	38.5	21.3	12
2008	53	31.6	21.8	11.5
2009	32.2	20.1	22	11.4
2010	21.1	13	23	11.6
2011	13.6	9.6	22.9	11.7
2012	14.6	12.8	22.6	11.6
2013	13.3	13	22.9	11.1
2014	15.1	11.9	22.7	11.6
2015	17	13.5	22.4	11.4
2016	21.2	16.9	22	11.4
2017	23.5	17.5	21.9	11.6
2018	26.1	18.8	22.4	10.8
2019	29.7	20.5	22.4	11.4
2020	27.8	18	22.8	11.2
2021	22.7	21.9	21.8	11.5
2022	25.6	25.1	20.7	11.3
2023	24	22.9	23.1	11.2

Table 2 shows the main components of the domestic extraction of raw materials in Ireland over the 2014-2023 period. This table gives a breakdown of Domestic Extraction into Biomass, Metals, Non-Metallic Minerals and Fossil Fuels. The main components of biomass are Fodder Crops and Grazed Grass. Metal production consists of the extraction of Lead and Zinc, and a small amount of Silver. Non-Metallic Minerals refer to materials mainly used in the construction sector such as Marble, Granite, Limestone, Crushed Rock, Sand and Gravel.

Table 2: Domestic Extraction 2014-2023

Table 2: Domestic Extraction 2014-2023
million tonnes
Description	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023

Domestic Extraction	80.3	82.6	90.9	95.1	99.0	103.9	96.3	94.3	99.6	96.5

Biomass	41.4	40.9	40.0	40.5	39.1	40.8	40.3	40.6	39.4	40.9
Crops	3.3	3.4	3.1	3.2	2.5	3.2	2.7	3.3	3.4	2.8
Cereals	2.6	2.6	2.3	2.4	1.9	2.4	2.0	2.5	2.5	2.0
Roots/Tubers	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.4	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.3
Sugar Crops	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Vegetables	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2
Other Crops	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3
Used Crop Residues	2.1	2.2	1.9	2.0	1.5	2.0	1.7	2.0	2.1	1.8
Straw	2.1	2.1	1.9	1.9	1.5	1.9	1.6	2.0	2.0	1.6
Other Crop Residues	0.0	0.1	0.0	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1
Fodder Crops	11.6	11.4	11.4	11.6	10.8	11.4	11.2	11.5	11.3	11.2
Grazed Biomass	22.7	22.4	22.0	21.9	22.4	22.4	22.8	21.8	20.7	23.1
Wood	1.3	1.4	1.4	1.5	1.6	1.7	1.6	1.8	1.8	1.8
Wild Fish Catch, Aquatic Plants and Animals	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2

Metallic Minerals	3.7	3.4	2.6	2.3	2.2	2.5	2.3	2.1	2.1	1.1
Lead Gross Ore	0.5	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.1
Zinc Gross Ore	3.2	3.0	2.3	2.0	2.0	2.2	2.1	1.9	1.8	1.0

Non-Metallic Minerals	29.7	33.9	42.0	45.4	50.5	56.2	51.3	49.7	56.4	53.0
Marble, Granite, Sandstone	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.5	0.7
Limestone and Gypsum	2.5	3.0	3.6	3.8	4.9	5.2	4.7	4.3	4.7	4.6
Crushed Rock	15.1	17.0	21.2	23.5	26.1	29.7	27.8	22.7	25.6	24.0
Sand and Gravel	11.9	13.5	16.9	17.5	18.8	20.5	18.0	21.9	25.1	22.9
Other Non-Metallic Minerals	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.3	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.5	0.7

Fossil Fuels	5.5	4.5	6.3	6.9	7.2	4.5	2.4	1.7	1.7	1.5
Peat	5.4	4.4	4.1	4.3	4.7	2.5	0.9	0.6	0.7	0.6
Natural Gas	0.1	0.1	2.3	2.6	2.5	1.9	1.5	1.1	1.1	0.8

Open in Excel: Material Flow Accounts 2023 Table 2 (XLS 11KB)

Table 3 shows the breakdown of trade by stage of production in Ireland between 2014 and 2023. Trade imports and exports are broken down into Raw Products, Semi-Manufactured Products and Finished Products and are measured in tonnes. Exports of Finished Products were higher than exports of Raw Products unlike the situation with imports.

Table 3: Trade by Stage of Manufacturing 2014-2023

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Material Flow Accounts 2023

Key Findings

Ireland’s material imports were more than twice the volume of exports in 2023

Key Findings

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