Ireland Trade Surplus Narrows in February

2026-04-15 10:39 By Jereli Escobar 1 min. read

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.



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