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Trade by economic sector

Table 5.1 Exports and imports by economic sector 2016
SectorExportsImports
€million €million 
Value% of totalValue% of total
Agri/food17,220153,1774
Pharmaceuticals52,038449,26813
Other manufacturing and construction29,5382512,32117
Wholesale/retail8,396724,56134
Services/other8,777721,10629
Unknown2,26122,7714
Total118,23010073,204100

Pharmaceutical sector is the biggest exporter

The pharmaceutical sector accounted for nearly half (44%) of the total value of exports in 2016, comprising €52 billion.  Manufacturing exports were worth €29.5 billion, and exports from the agri-food sector were €17.2 billion, or 15% of total exports.

The retail and wholesale sector was the largest importer in 2016, accounting for €24.5 billion (34% of the total) of goods imported.  The services sector, which includes aircraft leasing companies, imported €21.1 billion (29%) of goods.

SectorExports by NACE sector
Agri/food14.5651126461974
Pharmaceuticals44.0137161249426
Other
manufacturing
and
construction
24.9830872901836
Wholesale/
retail
7.10170384321936
Services/
other
7.42403284329284
Unknown1.91234725216426
SectorPercentage of imports
Agri/food4.34038645805881
Pharmaceuticals12.6609516609382
Other
manufacturing
and
construction
16.8313875711062
Wholesale/
retail
33.5508760485408
Services/
other
28.8313701709914
Unknown3.78502809036466

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