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Trade

This chapter contains information on Ireland's Goods Exports and Imports statistics which provide data on the movement of goods between countries with additional information on trade with Northern Ireland. The statistics are a combination of customs-based non-EU trade statistics and data from the Intrastat survey of Irish traders involved in trade with other EU member states.

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X-axis labelExportsImportsTrade surplus
19751.83781889471842.16376065945117-0.326041764732771
19762.36052.9686-0.608
19773.19743.92463342661676-0.727233426616757
19783.762487874001354.71466445901539-0.952176585014043
19794.415768115353176.13016846884825-1.71440035349508
19805.183705705187136.88286920174106-1.69916349655393
19816.066300643503268.3529-2.28659935649674
19827.226587299571848.6547-1.42811270042816
19838.81699.35390647617209-0.537006476172095
198411.297494552823611.3161-0.0186054471763582
198512.371058098135511.9713445510460.399813547089506
198611.902905668618710.94679289556150.956112773057173
198713.616036284035311.62470605563481.99133022840048
198815.623873107455412.97012052353842.65385258391699
198918.534366730830815.59784347684762.93662325398317
199018.203853909015615.83211015231782.37174375669787
199119.0700692261216.31715009827772.75291912784231
199221.260240437602516.75393999725744.50640044034517
199325.178525173827118.89967037599486.2788547978323
199428.890858393730521.94539110472296.94556728900762
199535.330081110868426.18085641293919.14922469792932
199638.608925750796128.479463256319510.1295624944766
199744.867972634604932.863487919711912.004484714893
199857.32181765545439.714994590915817.6067230645382
199966.956209273151144.327064213194122.629145059957
200083.98654.960129.0259
200192.730456.455236.2752
200294.058955.105738.9532
200382.584848.515334.0695
200484.949251.557233.392
200587.172758.462628.71
200687.496763.833123.6635
200790.579765.939324.6404
200888.503159.335629.1675
200987.585548.203339.3821
201090.923848.694642.2292
201193.190653.035240.1554
201293.506756.179237.3275
201389.181555.787133.3944
201492.615962.157530.4584
2015112.407370.11142.2963
2016119.292274.236845.0554
2017122.784882.943339.8415
2018140.64591.991148.6539
2019152.53491.019161.5149
2020161.98787.01474.974

Between 1975 and 2020 the value of goods exported rose from €1,838 million to €161,988 million. The value of imports rose from €2,164 million to €87,014 million. The year 2020 represented the highest level of exports on record.

The Trade in Goods balance (exports minus imports) changed from a deficit of €326 million in 1975 to a surplus of €74,974 million in 2020.

The value of exports in 2020 increased by 6% or €9,454 million over 2019, while imports decreased by €4,005 million over the same period.

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Table 19.1 Goods Exports and Imports classified by commodity
€million
SITC (Rev 4)ExportsImports
20172018201920202017201820192020
0Food and live animals11,37511,17811,77111,5947,1767,8447,8257,973
1Beverages and tobacco1,3641,4441,7151,4579089079901,084
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels1,8151,9211,6701,4149079391,002951
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials9931,0228867314,7705,8625,4663,386
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes91656985260276259297
5Chemicals and related products67,83485,75892,974105,81817,50119,86917,00221,505
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material2,2842,3302,3492,3265,0645,4135,8885,811
7Machinery and transport equipment21,17720,01423,75022,72435,83239,84440,97333,491
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles14,88515,78316,33014,9168,3178,7849,48410,281
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere390446368149434451312289
Unclassified estimates15786836527741,7741,8021,8171,947
 
Total122,785140,645152,534161,98882,94391,99191,01987,014
Source: CSO
1 Estimates for which a commodity classification is not available

The total value of goods exports has increased by 31% between 2017 and 2020, an increase of €39,203 million. Imports have increased by €4,071 million or 5% over the same period. 

Exports of Chemicals and related products increased by €37,984 million to €105,818 million between 2017 and 2020, and comprised 65% of all goods exports in 2020. Exports of Machinery and transport equipment grew from €21,177 million to €22,724 million between 2017 and 2020, an increase of 7%.

Imports of Beverages and tobacco increased from €908 million to €1,084 million (+19%) between 2017 and 2020.

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Link to release: Goods Exports and Imports

Food and live animalsBeverages and tobaccoCrude materials, inedible, except fuelsMineral fuels, lubricants and related materialsAnimal and vegetable oils, fats and waxesChemicals and related productsManufactured goods classified chiefly by materialMachinery and transport equipmentMiscellaneous manufactured articlesCommodities and transactions not classified elsewhereUnclassified estimates
Exports11.59413616569181.456879807930041.414158688729550.7311870504966440.0848369314662212105.817924854892.3260148761284422.723715305515514.91592240161320.1494277132954940.77379037351147
Imports7.972588862495321.084018240055670.9510978647068753.386063262178910.29656024407059221.50518719667765.8109419278933633.490962910865210.28075895397950.289035268482451.94693776698248
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This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
Table 19.2 Goods Exports classified by country

The USA is Ireland’s largest export partner, accounting for €50,536 million of goods in 2020, or 31% of total exports. Belgium is the largest export market in the EU, accounting for €17,883 million of goods in 2020. 

Exports to Great Britain were €12,222 million in 2020. The value of exports to Great Britain has decreased by €2,114 million since 2017, with the share of total exports from Great Britain falling from 12% to 8%.

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Link to release: Goods Exports and Imports

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This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
Table 19.3 Goods Imports classified by country

Ireland imported 35% of its total goods from the EU in 2020. Imports from the EU have increased from €30,265 million to €30,346 million between 2017 and 2020, with the share of total imports decreasing from 36% to 35%.

The single largest supplier was Great Britain, from whom €17,662 million, or 20% of all goods, was imported. Imports from the USA were €13,476 million in 2020, a decrease of €3,615 million since 2017.

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Link to release: Goods Exports and Imports

Table 19.4 Northern Ireland Goods Exports and Imports 2019 and 2020 classified by commodity (summary level)
  €000 €000€000 €000 
SITC level 112019 Exports% of which:2020 Exports% of which:2019 Imports% of which:2020 Imports% of which:
Northern IrelandNorthern IrelandNorthern IrelandNorthern Ireland
0Food and live animals11,770,9097.611,594,1367.67,825,0809.27,972,5899.1
1Beverages and tobacco1,715,1015.61,456,8805.6989,94418.61,084,01818.3
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels1,669,5626.21,414,1596.81,001,9408.1951,0988.9
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials886,0439.3731,1877.75,465,6393.63,386,0634.8
4Animal and vegetables oils, fats and waxes69,09613.084,83713.1258,9497.7296,56010.3
5Chemicals and related products92,973,7830.4105,817,9250.417,001,8451.521,505,1871.4
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material2,349,33116.12,326,01514.75,888,1744.45,810,9426.7
7Machinery and transport equipment23,749,5860.822,723,7150.840,973,4580.833,490,9630.8
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles16,330,2661.514,915,9221.59,484,1641.510,280,7591.4
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere1,020,32112.5923,21813.02,129,8729.72,235,9737.8
Total152,533,9971.7161,987,9941.591,019,0662.687,014,1522.8
Source: CSO
Table 19.5 Northern Ireland Goods Exports and Imports 2020 classified by commodity (detailed level)
€000€000
SITC level 212020 Exports% of which:2020 Imports% of which:
TotalNorthern IrelandNorthern IrelandTotalNorthern IrelandNorthern Ireland
00Live animals other than animals of Division 03349,75448,44213.9476,89644,9479.4
01Meat and meat preparations3,863,010285,2977.4900,14882,8969.2
02Dairy products and birds’ eggs2,976,905198,6296.7917,440234,61225.6
03Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and preparations thereof529,91220,3123.8286,89512,0644.2
04Cereals and cereal preparations538,415103,90719.31,242,460102,8858.3
05Vegetables and fruit325,41959,19118.21,354,02861,2774.5
06Sugar, sugar preparation and honey123,5487,4166.0398,67214,2883.6
07Coffee, tea cocoa, spices and manufactures thereof420,64522,4295.3658,39217,4392.6
08Feeding stuff for animals (excl. unmilled cereals)394,984102,15925.9964,502133,30513.8
09Miscellaneous edible products and preparations2,071,54333,1391.6773,15619,3952.5
11Beverages1,456,28581,1675.61,010,022197,99419.6
12Tobacco and tobacco manufactures59500.073,99600.0
21Hides, skins and furskins, raw56,5291,2422.22675219.5
22Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits8,5982,00023.323,9263,17113.3
23Crude rubber (include synthetic and reclaimed)4,72240.19,063580.6
24Cork and wood181,60649,02127.0193,78630,97916.0
25Pulp and waste paper41,1123420.856,3642680.5
26Textile fibres and their wastes110,7076110.611,4015905.2
27Crude fertilisers and minerals, excl. coal, petroleum etc.116,57810,9339.4166,54234,35120.6
28Metalliferous ores and metal scrap777,75023,6413.0224,5385,5402.5
29Crude animal and vegetable materials nes116,5568,3867.2265,2119,5343.6
32Coal, coke and briquettes111,71029,58726.567,43113,67320.3
33Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials545,62812,3662.32,543,117106,4534.2
34Gas, natural and manufactured14,9577875.3701,5425,2630.8
35Electric current58,89213,49222.973,97436,71149.6
41Animal oils and fats70,3032810.419,1497,96341.6
42Fixed vegetable fats and oils11,96310,60388.6247,19816,1446.5
43Animal or vegetable materials nes2,5712389.330,2136,38121.1
51Organic chemicals31,175,24010,4280.08,091,2797,1090.1
52Inorganic chemicals334,0806,1771.8323,6812,7010.8
53Dyeing, tanning and colouring materials113,1494,1683.7261,0696,7532.6
54Medical and pharmaceutical products62,095,786233,5390.48,405,947192,9282.3
55Essential oils, perfume materials; toilet and cleansing preps7,739,31343,3300.61,351,15418,9851.4
56Fertilisers (other than those of Division 27)8,4374,75056.3399,32515,2213.8
57Plastics in primary forms388,75313,5853.5876,0355,9390.7
58Plastics in non-primary forms532,66328,0995.3721,90024,0373.3
59Chemical materials and products nes3,430,50444,5551.31,074,79837,0393.4
61Leather; leather manufactures nes; dressed furskins32,8232340.719,1262891.5
62Rubber manufactures nes121,96227,51722.6364,11112,7223.5
63Cork and wood manufactures (excl. furniture)264,58242,11015.9318,18824,4217.7
64Paper, paperboard and articles thereof177,92831,32717.6954,36457,8526.1
65Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up articles and related products159,14414,4369.1788,22618,8472.4
66Non-metallic mineral manufactures nes468,595137,04229.2643,41936,5345.7
67Iron and steel159,76028,19117.6775,82748,9636.3
68Non-ferrous metals92,1327,3077.9514,7056,4411.3
69Manufactures of metals nes849,08753,8206.31,432,976180,58912.6
71Power generating machinery and equipment915,2105,4510.61,973,88126,4151.3
72Machinery specialised for particular industries737,25445,5126.21,614,02356,0733.5
73Metalworking machinery27,8861,0033.6120,2052,2791.9
74General industrial machinery and equipment nes and parts nes1,647,47436,7522.22,087,44637,0911.8
75Office machines and automatic data processing machines4,817,6278,0620.25,136,3682,5850.1
76Telecommunications and sound equipment1,177,7203,3780.32,102,6107,4410.4
77Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances nes and parts9,372,89231,4670.33,413,17843,8121.3
78Road vehicles (include. air-cushion vehicles)360,27939,85011.13,181,57484,2182.6
79Other transport equipment3,667,3739960.013,861,6784930.0
81Prefab buildings; plumbing and electrical fixtures and fittings127,12616,53113.0267,71414,9255.6
82Furniture and parts thereof; bedding, cushions etc194,73233,71917.3556,53717,4473.1
83Travel goods, handbags and similar containers33,6538432.5129,4075670.4
84Articles of apparel; clothing accessories217,56640,99118.82,197,9317,1080.3
85Footwear30,2252,5678.5442,2297560.2
87Professional, scientific and controlling apparatus nes5,981,41328,9410.52,233,8997,1670.3
88Photographic apparatus; optical goods; watches clocks1,360,4486500.0539,4562010.0
89Miscellaneous manufactured articles nes6,970,760101,2851.53,913,58593,7482.4
99All other commodities and transactions including unclassified estimates923,218120,00413.02,235,973174,1617.8
Grand Total161,987,9942,374,2331.587,014,1522,472,0882.8
Source: CSO
1SITC is the Standard International Trade Classification
Table 19.6 Top 6 Exports to Northern Ireland, 2020 classified by commodity (detailed level)
SITC level 21€000
01Meat and meat preparations285,297
54Medical and pharmaceutical products233,539
02Dairy products and birds’ eggs198,629
66Non-metallic mineral manufactures nes137,042
04Cereals and cereal preparations103,907
08Feeding stuff for animals (excl. unmilled cereals)102,159
Source: CSO
1SITC is the Standard International Trade Classification
Table 19.7 Top 6 Imports from Northern Ireland, 2020 classified by commodity (detailed level)
SITC level 21€000
02Dairy products and birds’ eggs234,612
11Beverages197,994
54Medical and pharmaceutical products192,928
69Manufactures of metals nes180,589
08Feeding stuff for animals (excl. unmilled cereals)133,305
33Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials106,453
Source: CSO
1SITC is the Standard International Trade Classification
Table 19.8 Northern Ireland Goods Exports and Imports, 2010 - 2020
€000
 20102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Exports           
Northern Ireland1,326,1241,421,9981,435,7891,477,8311,605,1821,744,1251,654,6661,934,7462,041,9612,517,4852,374,233
Total Exports from Ireland90,923,80793,190,63893,506,68489,181,45792,615,855112,407,343119,292,155122,784,792140,644,968152,533,997161,987,994
            
Imports           
Northern Ireland989,7161,047,2501,025,9811,016,4361,103,8631,091,3431,181,6281,375,3571,556,1102,373,8812,472,088
Total Imports to Ireland48,694,61753,035,19356,179,20955,787,07862,157,48070,111,00974,236,78982,943,28591,991,09391,019,06687,014,152
            
As a % of total exports:           
Northern Ireland1.51.51.51.71.71.61.41.61.51.71.5
            
As a % of total imports:           
Northern Ireland2.02.01.81.81.81.61.61.71.72.62.8
Source: CSO
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The five highest value exporters accounted for over €54 billion or 36% of all exports in 2019. The top 50 enterprises exported three quarters of total goods, equal to €114 billion.

There is less of a concentration of large traders on the import side than on the export side. The top five importers accounted for €15 billion or 17% of total imports in 2019. 

The top 50 importing enterprises had imports of €40 billion, or 44% of the total.

X-axis labelExportsImports
Top 535.691164414990117.0543985403206
Top 1048.149238136377723.5152711781892
Top 5074.970609746832244.1575983073943
Top 10082.013081397388553.7458101244386
Top 50092.226773592997974.3510462486168
Total100100

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