Ireland Trade Surplus Widens to 10-Month High

Ireland’s trade surplus widened significantly to EUR 5.3 billion in July 2026 from EUR 4.1 billion in the same month a year earlier. This marked the largest surplus since September 2025, as exports jumped 12.5% year-on-year to EUR 18.9 billion, lifted by higher shipments of live animals except fish (+30.0%) and mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials (+116.1%). Among key trading partners, exports recorded strong increases to Great Britain (+34.0%), the USA (+16.0%), and Northern Ireland (+4.0%). Meanwhile, imports rose 7.5% to EUR 13.6 billion, driven largely by increased purchases of tobacco and tobacco manufactures (+51.5%) and electric current (+124.3%). Imports grew from the USA (+6.0%) and the rest of the world (+43.0%), but declined from Great Britain (-1.0%) and Northern Ireland (-16.0%). For the January-June period, the country recorded a surplus of EUR 29.1 billion, significantly lower than the EUR 82.7 billion recorded in the same period last year.

Ireland’s trade surplus narrowed to EUR 3.5 billion in June 2026 from EUR 4.6 billion in the same month a year earlier. Imports jumped 19.0% year-on-year to EUR 14.7 billion, driven largely by higher purchases of office machines and automatic data processing machines (+102.3%), miscellaneous manufactured articles (+32.5%), and petroleum and petroleum products (+9.6%). Among key trading partners, imports recorded strong increases to the UK (+20.4%), the US (+51.3%), China (+31.8%), and Spain (+28.1%). Meanwhile, exports rose 7.1% to EUR 18.1 billion, lifted by increased shipments of petroleum and petroleum products (+327.6%), office machines and automatic data processing machines (+95.7%), animal oils and fats (+40.7%), and rubber and rubber products (+76.6%). Exports grew from the UK (+36.8%), Canada (+171.1%), and China (+91.1%). For the January–June period, the trade surplus EUR 24.4 billion, significantly lower compared to EUR 78.6 recorded in the same period last year.

Ireland’s trade surplus narrowed sharply to EUR 3.4 billion in May 2026 from EUR 12.1 billion in the same month a year earlier. Exports plunged 29.1% year-on-year to EUR 16.5 billion, weighed down by a decline in shipments of medicinal and pharmaceutical products (-58.9%), chemicals and related products (-50.4%), and other transport equipment (-24.5%). Among key trading partners, exports decreased to Belgium (-35.2%), Italy (-44.8%), the Netherlands (-29.9%), and the US (-55.9%). Meanwhile, imports jumped 17.5% to EUR 13.1 billion, lifted by higher purchases of petroleum and petroleum products (+69.9%), machinery and transport equipment (+45.7%), and telecommunications and sound recording, reproducing equipment (+32.7%). Imports increased from Germany (+5.3%), France (+17.3%), the UK (+2.7%), and the Netherlands (+4.8%). For the January–May period, the trade surplus reached EUR 21.5 billion, significantly lower compared to EUR 74 billion recorded in the same period of last year.