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Services Trade by Activity Sector

Services Trade by Activity Sector

The largest exporting sector ‘Information and Communications(J)’ exported 53% of service exports while the largest importing sector ‘Manufacturing(C)’ imported 45% of service imports.

Online ISSN: 2565-6511
CSO statistical release, , 11am
ExportsImports
Manufacturing (C)35.955398151.960922
Wholesale &
Retail Trade (G)
2.5561251.654653
Information &
Communication (J)
121.39828128.174491
Financial &
Insurance (K)
32.26681131.453303
Professional &
Scientific (M)
10.38903712.865725
Administrative &
Support (N)
25.1341266.613461
Other
Activities (Oth)
2.4528912.993426
  • The Information and Communication sector (J) was the largest export sector exporting €121bn (53%) of total service exports. 
  • The Manufacturing Sector (C) and the Financial and Insurance sector (K) were recorded as the second and third largest export sectors respectively with €36bn (16%) and €32bn (14%) of total service exports respectively.
  • The Administration and Support sector (N) also contributed significantly exporting €25bn (11%) of total service exports. 
  • The Manufacturing Sector (C) represented the largest import sector with €152bn (45%) of total service imports. 
  • The Information and Communication sector (J) formed the second largest activity sector with €128bn (38%). 
  • The Financial and Insurance sector (K) recorded imports of €31bn (9%) of total service imports.   See table 4.1, figure 4.1 and figure 4.2.
Table 4.1 Services Trade by Activity Sector, 2019

Manufacturing (C )Wholesale & Retail Trade (G)Information & Communication (J)Financial & Insurance (K)Professional & Scientific (M)Administrative & Support (N)Other Activities (Oth)
Exports15.62241198959291.1106214940771452.746848887278614.01974232164894.5139763489511210.92063203890381.06576691954751
Imports45.26472691212160.49287287279898738.17944281895839.369021667157393.832324264599131.969957158518470.891654305846107
Small & MediumLargeUnknown(Small & Medium/Large split not available)
Manufacturing (C)0.8819719613243856.347615314196588.392824714071970
Information & Communication (J)2.0852384817889750.2304670220030.4311433834866520
Financial & Insurance (K)11.5801394924520.8657492512752451.573853577921590
Administrative & Support (N)002.339527951941888.58110408696196
Other Activities (Oth)0006.69036476257577
LargeSmall & MediumUnknown
Manufacturing (C)5.462542311593630.68050204816093811.8167307045248
Information &
Communication (J)
42.09630376750520.6608715549570860.891163388564565
Financial &
Insurance (K)
1.305215324396914.73441010986092.47602810358738
Administrative &
Support (N)
08.221869614657994.90196868838611
Other Activities (Oth)4.53985656784252.155310589960360.0572272260015758

Large enterprises made up €140bn (61%) of total service exports (€230bn) in 2019. They dominated the Information and Communication sector (J) where they provided a sizeable €115bn (50%) of total service exports. Large enterprises in the Manufacturing sector (C) exported €15bn (6%) of total services while large enterprises in the Financial & Insurance sector (K) exported €2bn (1%) of total services.

SME enterprises in the Financial and Insurance sector (K) exported €27bn (12%) of total services while SME enterprises in the Information and Communication sector (J) made up €5bn (2%) of total service exports . See Figure 4.3 and Table 4.2.                                         

Table 4.2 Services Exports by Activity Sector and Enterprise Size, 2019

Small & MediumLargeUnknown(Small & Medium/Large split not available)
Manufacturing (C)2.5953092772190737.43897851559235.23043911931020
Information & Communication (J)0.47467981573388437.37337812345610.3313848797683540
Financial & Insurance (K)8.10621970361310.3253562719136690.9374456916306290
Administrative & Support (N)000.7930256975166161.17693146100185
Other Activities (Oth)0005.21685144324422

Large enterprises imported €263bn (78%) of total services (€336bn) in 2019. In the Manufacturing Sector (C) and the Information and Communication sector (J) they imported €126bn and €125bn (both 37%)  together importing €251bn (75%) of total services.

SMEs imported €48bn (14%) of total services and in the Financial and Insurance sector (K) and the Manufacturing Sector (C)  they made up €27bn (8%) and €9bn (3%) of total service imports respectively. See Figure 4.4 and Table 4.3.

Table 4.3 Services Imports by Activity Sector and Enterprise Size, 2019