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%).

Ireland's trade surplus narrowed to EUR 5.16 billion in November 2025 from EUR 8.90 billion in the same month last year, as exports fell sharply while imports rose. Exports declined 17.1% year-on-year to EUR 17.14 billion, driven by chemicals and related products (€9.7 billion), which accounted for 43.3% of total exports, followed by machinery and transport equipment (€3.0 billion) and miscellaneous manufactured articles (€2.2 million). By market, the EU (€7.8 billion), the US (€3.9 billion), and the UK (€1.7 billion) were the largest destinations. Imports rose 7.3% to EUR 11.98 billion, led by machinery and transport equipment (€5.0 billion), chemicals and related products (€2.8 billion), and miscellaneous manufactured articles (€1.5 million). Europe (€4.1 billion), the UK (€1.9 billion), and the US (€1.7 billion) were the main suppliers.

Ireland's trade surplus narrowed to EUR 4.35 billion in October 2025 from EUR 9.49 billion in the same month last year. This was the smallest surplus since December 2024, amid a sharp fall in exports and a rise in imports. Exports dropped 21.6% year-on-year to EUR 16.62 billion, dragged mainly by a 36.2% decline in medical and pharmaceutical products, which accounted for 42.2% of total exports. Among key partners, exports to Great Britain (-3.7%) fell, while shipments increased to the US (25.6%), the Netherlands (10.8%), and Belgium (10.3%). Meanwhile, imports rose 4.7% to EUR 12.27 billion, led by substantial increases in purchases of organic chemicals (58.7%) and office machines and automatic data-processing equipment (133.2%). Ireland’s largest suppliers were the US (13.6%), Great Britain (11.7%), and Germany (9.3%). For the first ten months of 2025, exports grew 22% to EUR 228.46 billion, with 45.7% of all goods shipped to the US, while imports rose 5.6% to EUR 117.29 billion.