Ireland Trade Surplus Narrows Sharply in March

2026-05-15 10:28 By Mariene Camarillo 1 min. read

Ireland’s trade surplus narrowed sharply to EUR 4 billion in March 2026 from EUR 24.5 billion in the same month last year.

Exports plunged 51.4% year-on-year to EUR 18.3 billion, weighed down by steep declines in medical and pharmaceutical products (-70%) and organic chemicals (-70.8%).

However, a 439.1% surge in exports of petroleum and petroleum products partly offset these losses.

The US (+24.7%), the Netherlands (+13.5%), and Great Britain (+10.7%) were the top export destinations.

Meanwhile, imports rose 9.3% to EUR 14.3 billion, driven by higher purchases of petroleum and petroleum products (+5.6%).

However, this increase was partly offset by declines in imports of medical and pharmaceutical products (-29.9%) and organic chemicals (-11.4%).

Ireland’s largest suppliers were the US (+13.8%) and Great Britain (+9.8%).

In the first three months of the year, the trade surplus totaled EUR 12.4 billion, significantly lower than the EUR 51.3 billion recorded in the same period last year.



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Ireland Trade Surplus Narrows Sharply in March
Ireland’s trade surplus narrowed sharply to EUR 4 billion in March 2026 from EUR 24.5 billion in the same month last year. Exports plunged 51.4% year-on-year to EUR 18.3 billion, weighed down by steep declines in medical and pharmaceutical products (-70%) and organic chemicals (-70.8%). However, a 439.1% surge in exports of petroleum and petroleum products partly offset these losses. The US (+24.7%), the Netherlands (+13.5%), and Great Britain (+10.7%) were the top export destinations. Meanwhile, imports rose 9.3% to EUR 14.3 billion, driven by higher purchases of petroleum and petroleum products (+5.6%). However, this increase was partly offset by declines in imports of medical and pharmaceutical products (-29.9%) and organic chemicals (-11.4%). Ireland’s largest suppliers were the US (+13.8%) and Great Britain (+9.8%). In the first three months of the year, the trade surplus totaled EUR 12.4 billion, significantly lower than the EUR 51.3 billion recorded in the same period last year.
2026-05-15
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