Back to Top

 Skip navigation

Extra information
Methodology Previous Releases
International comparison:
Eurostat
For more information on this release:
E-mail: Trade@cso.ie Norita Murphy +353 1 4984295 Bernie Ryan +353 1 4984235
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-5155
Table 1 Goods Exports and Imports summary analysis
PeriodValueVolume index1Unit value index1 
ExportsImportsTrade surplusBase year 1990=100
€m€m€mExportsImportsExportsImportsTerms of trade2
1990 18,20415,8322,372100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0
1991 19,07016,3172,753105.6100.899.3102.397.0
1992 21,26016,7544,506121.1105.696.6100.296.4
1993 25,17918,9006,279133.4113.0103.9105.498.6
1994 28,89121,9456,946153.2127.9103.8108.196.0
1995 35,33026,1819,149184.0146.3105.7112.793.7
1996 38,60928,47910,130202.2160.9105.1111.494.3
1997 44,86832,86312,004232.4184.8106.3112.094.9
1998 57,32239,71517,607289.2218.3109.1114.695.2
1999 66,95644,32722,629336.5236.5109.5118.092.8
200083,88955,90927,980401.4275.2115.0128.089.9
2001 92,69057,38435,306422.0274.2120.9131.891.7
2002 93,67555,62838,047435.1276.6118.5126.793.5
2003 82,07647,86534,212418.4259.7108.0116.193.0
2004 84,41051,10533,304446.5283.6104.0113.591.7
2005 86,73257,46529,267456.7316.3104.5114.491.3
2006 86,77260,85725,915458.0325.2104.4117.788.7
2007 89,22663,48625,741481.8340.9101.9117.386.9
2008 86,39457,58528,810484.5300.598.0119.781.9
2009 85,80445,06140,742468.4249.298.9113.986.8
2010 89,70345,76443,940485.5241.3101.2119.284.9
2011 91,22848,30242,925507.9240.899.7126.478.8
2012 91,68849,15142,538479.1231.9105.8133.779.2
201386,93349,93037,004460.6238.8103.9131.678.9
         
2012January7,6784,4663,212483.9251.4104.7134.278.0
 February7,4023,9573,445470.5224.9103.9133.078.1
March8,6284,9873,640548.1286.5103.9131.778.9
April7,0733,7413,332449.8210.5103.8134.377.3
May7,6314,0663,564479.3231.8105.2132.579.4
June8,0653,9804,085492.8225.1107.8133.081.0
July7,8083,7994,009482.2212.9107.1134.579.7
August8,3763,8654,511508.3214.6108.8135.780.1
September7,4644,2043,260465.4242.5106.8134.979.2
October7,4704,3283,142471.4245.6106.0134.378.9
November8,3174,0424,275524.5224.0105.2133.678.8
December5,7783,7172,061372.3211.5106.8132.280.8
20133January6,7294,4422,287419.9251.3105.8133.679.2
 February6,6193,9132,706424.1222.4103.1133.077.5
March8,0864,1383,948505.8237.1105.6131.980.1
April7,4734,2393,234462.8239.0106.6134.079.6
May7,2183,9493,268452.1228.4105.4130.780.7
June7,3414,0363,306463.1230.6104.7132.379.2
July7,6014,0213,580482.7225.1104.0135.077.0
August6,9813,9773,003442.6232.8104.0129.380.4
September7,3344,0463,288469.9229.2103.4133.177.7
October7,2964,4152,881468.5251.3102.8132.877.5
November7,6744,3933,281489.2251.7103.6131.978.6
December6,5834,3612,222419.5249.2103.2131.778.3
20143January6,9614,5342,427447.9259.1102.6132.277.6
 February6,7844,0602,724427.7229.1104.8133.978.2
 March7,5004,7522,749491.8272.6101.5133.476.1
 April7,1164,2632,854464.8242.1101.1133.076.0
 May47,8774,2933,584501.9246.7103.6131.578.8
1 Monthly data have been rescaled to make their average equal to the annual.   
2 Export unit value index divided by Import unit value index.
3 Revised, see background notes.
4 May 2014 is based on current Intrastat response levels, see background notes.
   
Table 2 Goods Exports and Imports seasonally adjusted1 series  
PeriodValueVolume index
ExportsImportsTrade surplusBase year 1990=100
€m€m€mExportsImports
2011January7,2894,4952,795485.9263.6
 February8,0514,3223,729535.5251.8
March7,6263,8203,806520.7222.1
April7,5774,9192,658495.4289.2
May7,5683,7243,844503.9227.2
June7,8403,8334,007537.2228.2
July7,0233,8053,217470.7228.9
August7,7843,9863,798524.5240.5
September7,7993,8273,973531.2231.9
October7,4613,8613,601501.9233.9
November8,0953,8064,289541.9219.5
December7,1134,1292,984488.7239.5
2012January8,3024,5063,796516.1253.4
 February7,2863,7303,557462.3214.8
March7,7394,6233,116498.5260.9
April7,0293,5843,445443.4202.3
May7,5284,1193,409472.2229.7
June7,4714,0123,459459.5228.3
July7,8334,0033,829485.9225.1
August9,1884,2154,973561.3232.0
September7,2994,4792,820457.5261.2
October7,4924,2163,276465.4238.1
November8,0333,8514,182498.6216.0
December6,5393,8012,738430.2218.5
2013January6,7913,9782,813423.4236.5
 February6,9763,8983,078444.0222.9
March7,4143,8063,609459.7217.4
April7,3514,0623,288457.4230.4
May7,0864,0273,060446.0230.0
June7,1314,2292,902453.3240.2
July7,3334,2453,088469.8234.8
August7,6714,4823,190488.7257.0
September7,2974,1233,174469.0235.5
October7,3424,3722,970464.2242.7
November6,9774,4892,489442.7256.6
December7,7314,3023,428493.2247.2
2014January7,1464,1243,021462.7239.2
 February7,2294,0613,168450.7232.2
 March6,9164,4792,437451.2256.6
 April6,8824,0052,876455.2230.3
 May7,8894,5463,344503.0255.3
1 Based on seasonal patterns up to December 2013. Accordingly all values in this table may have been revised.
Table 3 Goods Exports and Imports classified by commodity1 
 €million
SITC (Rev 4)ExportsImports
MayMayJan-MayJan-MayMayMayJan-MayJan-May
20132014201320142013201420132014
0Food and live animals7618213,3823,7455364842,5142,478
00Live animals other than animals of Division 03182285108763959
01Meat and meat preparations2472731,1791,3106769320341
02Dairy products and birds' eggs1781786647155166249330
03Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and preparations thereof364122623918179195
04Cereals and cereal preparations252912314010084437393
05Vegetables and fruit2121991039678434426
06Sugars, sugar preparations and honey11953454234169146
07Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and manufactures thereof44271731643130160168
08Feeding stuff for animals (excl. unmilled cereals)23201111008658441335
09Miscellaneous edible products and preparations1592006708213841174184
1Beverages and tobacco91814354006863293292
11Beverages 83754023746157257258
12Tobacco and tobacco manufactures763326763633
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels1471457267226268291306
21Hides, skins and furskins, raw111355680000
22Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits 0011221212
23Crude rubber (incl. synthetic and reclaimed) 00121167
24Cork and wood121551617154052
25Pulp and waste paper442222452122
26Textile fibres and their wastes121159551178
27Crude fertilisers and minerals (excl. coal, petroleum and precious stones)1111586513105049
28Metalliferous ores and metal scrap878243340615207783
29Crude animal and vegetable materials nes87444217137875
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials621053284235525702,9352,920
32Coal, coke and briquettes1094144241310279
33Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials51922793663924432,1102,214
34Gas, natural and manufactured14512128107712582
35Electric current0031761144
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes352326211710185
41Animal oils and fats2419221155
42Fixed vegetable fats and oils113318158572
43Animal or vegetable fats and oils, processed; waxes001121118
5Chemicals and related products4,2014,70021,50521,2908811,0064,7145,041
51Organic chemicals1,5511,7647,9657,9802002511,1221,470
52Inorganic chemicals1612876119149276
53Dyeing, tanning and colouring materials1710844818178078
54Medical and pharmaceutical products1,6171,8148,9248,5243483721,9111,868
55Essential oils; perfume materials; toilet and cleansing preparations6247282,7773,0258995425435
56Fertilisers (other than those of Division 27)00114962273263
57Plastics in primary forms25271391327095341363
58Plastics in non-primary forms36381591764246182209
59Chemical materials and products nes3143061,3691,3434753287279
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material1431686707753373371,5511,667
61Leather; leather manufactures nes; dressed furskins1210111167
62Rubber manufactures nes5627272526119124
63Cork and wood manufactures (excl. furniture)23229810014206480
64Paper, paperboard and articles thereof121459686466320335
65Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up articles and related products121556643036137170
66Non-metallic mineral manufactures nes23311061363131153155
67Iron and steel101251554547215238
68Non-ferrous metals6727295835222217
69Manufactures of metals nes51602362846873315342
7Machinery and transport equipment8458064,2533,8218591,0635,1665,666
71Power generating machinery and equipment77573372378364348315
72Machinery specialised for particular industries444821823367118408801
73Metalworking machinery22911582633
74General industrial machinery and equipment nes and parts nes15115256566297110444560
75Office machines and automatic data processing machines2602521,5791,4001992031,1361,117
76Telecommunications and sound equipment51532672499585416435
77Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances nes and parts190132991703162177777845
78Road vehicles (incl. air-cushion vehicles)23221041041302088771,156
79Other transport equipment48881822212191734404
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles8949404,3974,5744605092,2602,513
81Prefab buildings; plumbing and electrical fixtures and fittings99455012145872
82Furniture and parts thereof; bedding, cushions etc111248642731125146
83Travel goods, handbags and similar containers1166894042
84Articles of apparel; clothing accessories20198584106111575582
85Footwear3312122023119123
87Professional, scientific and controlling apparatus nes3353601,4791,805100118449566
88Photographic apparatus; optical goods; watches and clocks9990443427181986102
89Miscellaneous manufactured articles nes4174452,2792,126169184806882
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere24481991868492440469 
Unclassified estimates246592082778984416464 
            
Total7,2177,87736,12436,2393,9494,29320,68121,901 
1 May 2014 is based on current Intrastat response levels, see background notes. 
2 Estimates for which a commodity classification is not available.
Table 4 Goods Exports and Imports classified by country1
        €million
CountryExportsImports
MayMayJan-MayJan-MayMayMayJan-MayJan-May
20132014201320142013201420132014
Austria313522213820178282
Belgium9401,0444,4814,7548178461435
Bulgaria85272611611
Croatia2-2-10-0-1
Cyprus211470011
Czech Republic37401792002230129164
Denmark46482192292832260157
Estonia128905513
Finland25211491221084349
France3563951,7171,789154159928922
Germany4524943,0042,3573543721,7551,810
Great Britain9509644,9754,7521,2571,2466,4096,705
Greece2525121130151115
Hungary 241911810214135051
Italy 2112151,0219246872359360
Latvia71209421310
Lithuania331214984733
Luxembourg462028732316
Malta321191062
Netherlands3302621,5441,3522272131,1351,031
Northern Ireland1281325866208691414447
Poland73793153792833150166
Portugal293114514713115857
Romania38231601371164334
Slovakia642722462225
Slovenia42141411418
Spain2712071,1601,0296085333369
Sweden78523252703046165164
EU Country not specified335103589111462550
Total EU4,0854,11920,60419,6142,5802,65413,37413,698
  of which Euro-Zone42,6902,74813,66012,8411,0021,0385,2235,216
         
Australia5859287251773241
Brazil1932115110131711266
Canada55733243172088120177
China1772288358302252291,1321,225
India1820101993943177178
Japan16814672075160104375729
Malaysia16209179202490100
Mexico651643025262622123112
Norway492717113313425546495
Russia775629327010196394
Saudi Arabia10512633032500272
Singapore38382252272024157157
South Africa1721102136763327
South Korea34381341624227189161
Switzerland4715021,4872,06357130399763
Taiwan812476019218098
Thailand101248612925147144
Turkey41591962162040115179
USA1,3771,7868,1068,4643774812,3572,368
Other countries3273361,5931,532190278806926
Country unknown53112135326230160
         
Total7,2177,87736,12436,2393,9494,29320,68121,901
1 May 2014 is based on current Intrastat response levels, see background notes. 
2 Croatia joined the EU on 1 July 2013.   
3 Includes estimates for traders below the Intrastat threshold and transactions where the EU country was not specified.
4 Euro-zone members from January 2014: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Greece, Ireland, Italy,
  the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Malta, Cyprus, Slovakia, Estonia and Latvia.
5 Trade for which the country of origin or country of final destination is unknown.
Table 5 Goods Exports and Imports classified by commodity and principal countries1
    €million
  ExportsImports
 Country by Section level of SITCMayMayJan-MayJan-MayMayMayJan-MayJan-May
20132014201320142013201420132014
Great Britain9509644,9754,7521,2571,2466,4096,705
0Food and live animals2842751,3051,345208187947980
1Beverages and tobacco251810598242398112
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels293714616612156261
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials25102112033403221,9572,036
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes1177331817
5Chemicals and related products3013351,7851,485169183809871
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material5669264324122128606657
7Machinery and transport equipment132117656628186192962979
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles7474391372143148717747
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere23261041245045234244
Other EU2,33,1343,15815,63014,8631,3251,4106,9626,994
0Food and live animals2883041,3001,3842242001,0791,035
1Beverages and tobacco29251311163227145129
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels76753913732122100106
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials101259463130272115
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes23121713106450
5Chemicals and related products1,9572,0199,8769,3253984262,0651,974
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material6066290305141126598622
7Machinery and transport equipment3623081,7821,5882653411,6141,765
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles3213091,6581,52989108458565
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere2839131180112121567632
USA1,3771,7868,1068,4643774812,3572,368
0Food and live animals91241592416155101
1Beverages and tobacco24261231221146
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels231111531916
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials083281729121235
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes0-0-0011
5Chemicals and related products9391,1775,9885,872132139781805
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material111546722624117121
7Machinery and transport equipment80109383435110206957916
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles3103581,4711,7076577294349
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere131414441818
China4 1772288358302252291,1321,225
0Food and live animals3352142220231014
1Beverages and tobacco00210000
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels873939431116
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials--000000
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes00110000
5Chemicals and related products4411119430617177586
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material238112327109130
7Machinery and transport equipment6925357147110107566592
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles2130921066769346371
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere-000331516
Rest of World1,5791,7406,5787,3307669273,8204,609
0Food and live animals1481795947387878322348
1Beverages and tobacco1312746312124644
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels3122139133202599108
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials270292172206693733
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes0121441917
5Chemicals and related products9591,0573,6614,3011662419851,305
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material151461632632122137
7Machinery and transport equipment2022471,0751,0231872171,0681,414
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles16816978586197107444481
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere1739158145552422
          
Total7,2177,87736,12436,2393,9494,29320,68121,901
1 May 2014 is based on current Intrastat response levels, see background notes.
2 Croatia joined the EU on 1 July 2013.
3 Includes estimates for traders below the Intrastat threshold and transactions where the EU country was not specified.
4 China includes Hong Kong and Macao.

Background Notes

 

Introduction

Goods Exports and Imports statistics provide data on the movement of goods between countries. 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. The collection of trade data is the responsibility of VIMA (a branch of Revenue). The CSO is responsible for processing and disseminating the data.

Revisions

Trade figures are subject to revision on the incorporation of late Intrastat and VAT returns and corrections made by traders. When the preliminary results for a month are published, the results for months -1 (April 2014 in this publication), -4 (January 2014) and -8 (September 2013) are revised.

Intrastat System

The Intrastat system has two components. Firstly, the Intrastat survey (conducted by the Revenue Commissioners), in which traders, above the Intrastat survey trade thresholds, make detailed monthly returns giving information on the quantity and value of all exports to or imports from EU countries.

The total number of traders required to make a detailed import return is around 6,700 while around 1,900 must make a detailed export return. The response rate in terms of number of traders in May 2014 was 62%, covering an estimated 92% of the total value of intra-EU trade (these response rates will have increased by the next time data for May is published).

The second component of the Intrastat system is the regular VAT return, on which all traders are required to record the total value of goods imported from and exported to other EU countries. This information provides the basis for determining total EU trade for those traders below the Intrastat survey thresholds. It is also used to maintain the register of EU traders.

Extrastat System

The statistics of trade with non-EU countries are compiled from the documents supplied by importers and exporters to the Customs authorities. The document is the Single Administrative Document (SAD) used for Customs clearance purposes.

Estimation

The figures in this release include estimates for traders above the Intrastat thresholds who did not make detailed returns for the period and for traders below the thresholds who did not provide aggregate intra-EU trade figures on their VAT returns.

Estimates for Intrastat non-respondents are apportioned to individual commodities and countries whenever previous Intrastat returns are available. Estimates for traders below the Intrastat thresholds are assigned to partner country where possible, but not to commodity.

Imports incorporate an upward adjustment of 1.75% of total imports, which is included in ‘Unclassified estimates’. This special adjustment arises from the difficulty of comprehensively covering all EU imports through the Intrastat survey system. The unclassified category also includes certain miscellaneous adjustments.

More information is now being processed on lower value transactions. Prior to January 2012, transactions below €254 were grouped together, this value has now decreased to €127. Therefore, this has resulted in more detail being available at commodity level in Table 3 and at country level in Tables 4 and 5.

Unit Value Indices

The monthly unit value index measures monthly unit value trends relative to the annual levels in the preceding year using value weights relating to that year’s trade (Laspeyres index).

The annual index is compiled using value weights for both the current and previous year (Fisher index) to allow for change in the structure of trade in goods.

The monthly index series should be regarded as interim measures suitable for month-to-month comparisons within a given year. Previous monthly indices are revised when late returns are received.

When the annual unit value index is compiled, the monthly unit value indices are rescaled to make their average equal to the annual index.

Seasonally Adjusted Series

Monthly exports, imports, trade surplus and the volume series for exports and imports have been seasonally adjusted using the US Bureau of the Census X-11 Variant of the Census Method 11 Seasonal Adjustment Program. In the main, monthly projections are based on series recalculated at the end of the previous year.

Services Exports and Imports

The quarterly Balance of Payments (BOP) statistics provide detail on Services exports and imports.

upArrowHide Background Notes

Scan the QR code below to view this release online or go to
http://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/gei/goodsexportsandimportsmay2014/