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Services Trade by Activity Sector

Services Trade by Activity Sector

The Information and Communications sector was both the largest exporting and importing sector in 2023

Online ISSN: 2565-6511
CSO statistical release, , 11am
  • The Information and Communication sector was the largest export sector, exporting €231bn (58%) of total service exports in 2023.
  • The Financial and Insurance sector and the Manufacturing sector were recorded as the second and third largest export sectors respectively both with €49bn (12%) of total service exports.
  • The Professional and Scientific Sector also contributed significantly exporting €32bn (8%) of total service exports.
  • The Information and Communication sector also represented the largest import sector with €170bn (44%) of total service imports.
  • The Manufacturing Sector formed the second largest activity sector with €125bn (32%) of total imports.
  • The Financial and Insurance sector recorded imports of €45bn (12%) of total service imports. See table 4.1, figure 4.1 and figure 4.2.
ExportsImports
Manufacturing (C)48.902094125.37031
Wholesale &
Retail Trade (G)
7.2909234.949036
Information &
Communication (J)
231.072957169.71867
Financial &
Insurance (K)
49.22148145.222784
Professional &
Scientific (M)
31.96899830.97503
Administrative &
Support (N)
26.0808317.657295
Other
Activities (Oth)
4.4769193.403238

Get the data: PxStat STA03

Table 4.1 Services Trade by Activity Sector, 2023

Manufacturing (C )Wholesale & Retail Trade (G)Information & Communication (J)Financial & Insurance (K)Professional & Scientific (M)Administrative & Support (N)Other Activities (Oth)
Exports1225812871
Imports3214412821

Get the data: PxStat STA03

Large enterprises made up €262bn (66%) of total service exports (€399bn) in 2023. They dominated the Information and Communication sector where they provided €231bn (58%) of total service exports, and 96% of total exports of that particular sector. Large enterprises in the Manufacturing sector exported €25bn (6%) of total services.

SME enterprises in the Financial and Insurance sector exported €32bn (8%) of total services while SME enterprises in the Professional and Scientific sector made up €30bn (7%) of total service exports. See figure 4.3 and table 4.2.

Small & MediumLargeUnknown(Small & Medium/Large split not available)
Manufacturing (C)0.805567815840386.289868333333495.160291499698820
Information & Communication (J)2.1892253294051355.48101178744260.2407232606704980
Financial & Insurance (K)8.136267019046441.068605570413743.130899077294250
Administrative & Support (N)3.2334874054596003.30282904741614
Other Activities (Oth)9.93139184070598001.02983201327297

Get the data: PxStat STA03

Table 4.2 Services Exports by Activity Sector and Enterprise Size, 2023

Large enterprises imported €264bn (68%) of total services (€387bn) in 2023.  In the Manufacturing Sector and the Information and Communication sector they imported €95bn and €163bn, together importing €258bn (67%) of total service Imports.  

SMEs imported €88bn (23%) of total services and in the Financial and Insurance sector and the Manufacturing Sector they made up €33bn (9%) and €9bn (2%) of total service imports respectively.  See figure 4.4 and table 4.3.

Small & MediumLargeUnknown(Size breakdown unavailable)
Manufacturing (C)22460
Information & Communication (J)14200
Financial & Insurance (K)9130
Administrative & Support (N)1001
Other Activities (Oth)00010

Get the data: PxStat STA03

Table 4.3 Services Imports by Activity Sector and Enterprise Size, 2023