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Trade by Economic Sector

Table 4.1 Exports and imports by economic sector 2017
SectorExportsImports
€million €million 
Value% of totalValue% of total
Agri/food17,923153,7104
Pharmaceuticals53,1664410,98713
Other manufacturing and construction29,4302413,07216
Wholesale/retail8,722726,84533
Services/other9,681826,06732
Unknown2,83821,9142
Total121,75910082,595100

Pharmaceutical sector is the biggest exporter

The pharmaceutical sector accounted for nearly half (44%) of the total value of exports in 2017, comprising €53 billion.

Manufacturing exports were worth €29.4 billion, and exports from the agri-food sector were €17.9 billion, or 15% of total exports.

The wholesale and retail sector was the largest importer in 2017, accounting for €26.8 billion (33% of the total) of goods imported.

The services sector, which includes aircraft leasing companies, imported €26.1 billion (32%) of goods.

SectorExports by NACE sector
Other
manufacturing
and
construction
24.1703923638775
Pharmaceuticals43.6646371801652
Whole-
sale/
retail
7.163367501122
Agri/food14.7200485727512
Services/
other
7.95055984838163
Unknown2.33099453370246
SectorPercentage of imports
Pharmaceuticals13.3027907643626
Whole-
sale/
retail
32.5014677376532
Other
manufacturing
and
construction
15.8271998316789
Agri/food4.49134488303184
Services/
other
31.5602814596368
Unknown2.3169153236366

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