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%).

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.