Ireland’s trade surplus narrowed sharply to EUR 4.6 billion in February 2026 from EUR 13 billion in the same month last year. Exports plunged 36.4% year-on-year to EUR 15.9 billion, weighed down by declines in live animals excluding fish (-16.9%), vegetables and fruits (-17.2%), and crude materials except fuels (-32.1%). Shipments also dropped to the United States (-69.7%), Japan (-56.1%), China (-16.6%), and Switzerland (-64.6%). Meanwhile, imports declined at a softer pace of 6.1% to EUR 11.3 billion, reflecting lower purchases of dairy products and birds’ eggs (-17.6%), cereals and cereal preparations (-22.7%), feeding stuffs for animals excluding unmilled cereals (-20.1%), and tobacco and tobacco manufactures (-27.1%). Imports also fell from the United States (-15.1%), the Netherlands (-13.4%), Germany (-49.6%), and Belgium (-67.3%). In the first two months of the year, the trade surplus totaled EUR 9.4 billion, down sharply from EUR 26.8 billion in the same period last year. source: Central Statistics Office Ireland

Ireland recorded a trade surplus of 4603162 EUR Thousand in February of 2026. Balance of Trade in Ireland averaged 1935461.37 EUR Thousand from 1970 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 24495294.00 EUR Thousand in March of 2025 and a record low of -280890.00 EUR Thousand in January of 1982. This page provides the latest reported value for - Ireland Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Ireland Balance of Trade - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on April of 2026.

Ireland recorded a trade surplus of 4603162 EUR Thousand in February of 2026. Balance of Trade in Ireland is expected to be 5165000.00 EUR Thousand by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Ireland Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 5510000.00 EUR Thousand in 2027 and 5680000.00 EUR Thousand in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-03-19 11:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Jan €4.8B €2.7B €6.5B
2026-04-15 10:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Feb €4.6B €4.8B €3.5B
2026-05-15 10:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Mar €4.6B € 25.4B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade 4603162.00 4804828.00 EUR Thousand Feb 2026
Capital Flows 8641.00 4571.00 EUR Million Dec 2025
Current Account 12807.00 13941.00 EUR Million Dec 2025
Exports 15894938.00 16173468.00 EUR Thousand Feb 2026
External Debt 3240754.24 3191931.33 EUR Million Dec 2025
Foreign Direct Investment 10809.00 18744.00 EUR Million Dec 2025
Imports 11291776.00 11368640.00 EUR Thousand Feb 2026
Terms of Trade 86.30 88.90 points Feb 2026


Ireland Balance of Trade
Ireland posts regular trade surpluses since 1985. Its main exports are chemicals and related products, machinery, and food and live animals. In the meantime, its main imports are machinery, transport equipment, and fuel. Ireland's main exporting partners are the United States, other EU member-states, and Great Britain. On the other hand, the majority of imports are from the rest of the world, mainly due to energy purchases, followed by other EU states.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
4603162.00 4804828.00 24495294.00 -280890.00 1970 - 2026 EUR Thousand Monthly
Current Prices, NSA

News Stream
Ireland Trade Surplus Narrows in February
Ireland’s trade surplus narrowed sharply to EUR 4.6 billion in February 2026 from EUR 13 billion in the same month last year. Exports plunged 36.4% year-on-year to EUR 15.9 billion, weighed down by declines in live animals excluding fish (-16.9%), vegetables and fruits (-17.2%), and crude materials except fuels (-32.1%). Shipments also dropped to the United States (-69.7%), Japan (-56.1%), China (-16.6%), and Switzerland (-64.6%). Meanwhile, imports declined at a softer pace of 6.1% to EUR 11.3 billion, reflecting lower purchases of dairy products and birds’ eggs (-17.6%), cereals and cereal preparations (-22.7%), feeding stuffs for animals excluding unmilled cereals (-20.1%), and tobacco and tobacco manufactures (-27.1%). Imports also fell from the United States (-15.1%), the Netherlands (-13.4%), Germany (-49.6%), and Belgium (-67.3%). In the first two months of the year, the trade surplus totaled EUR 9.4 billion, down sharply from EUR 26.8 billion in the same period last year.
2026-04-15
Ireland Trade Surplus Narrows Sharply in January
Ireland’s trade surplus narrowed sharply to EUR 4.83 billion in January 2026 from EUR 13.88 billion in the same month last year. Year-on-year, exports plunged 35% to EUR 16.18 billion, weighed down by declines in medical and pharmaceutical products (-61%) and chemical and related products (-29.3%). However, a 53.6% increase in exports of electrical machinery, apparatus, and appliances helped partially offset these losses. The US (21.6%), the Netherlands (12.8%), and Great Britain (10.9%) were the top export destinations. Meanwhile, imports rose 3.1% to EUR 11.35 billion, supported by higher purchases of medical and pharmaceutical products (3%) and electrical machinery, apparatus, and appliances (24.7%). Ireland’s largest suppliers were the US (14%), Great Britain (11%), and China (10%).
2026-03-19
Ireland Trade Surplus Smallest in 2 Years
Ireland’s trade surplus narrowed to EUR 2.87 billion in December 2025 from EUR 3.87 billion in the same month last year. This marked the smallest trade surplus since December 2023, as imports rose more than exports. Year-on-year, exports grew 1.7% to EUR 16 billion, supported by a 2.7% increase in medical and pharmaceutical sales, which accounted for 40% of total exports. However, a 14.1% drop in exports of organic chemicals weighed on overall shipments. Exports to the US slumped by 41.1% to EUR 3.3 billion, with chemical products comprising the bulk of shipments to that market. The US, the Netherlands, and Belgium remained the top export destinations. Meanwhile, imports rose faster at 10.7% to EUR 13.1 billion, driven by higher purchases of medical and pharmaceutical (+16.4%), organic chemicals (+6.8%), and office machines & automatic data processing machines (+89.8%). Ireland’s largest suppliers were France (12.8%), the US (12.7%), and Great Britain (10.2%).
2026-02-17