Ireland Trade Surplus Narrows in August

Ireland’s trade surplus narrowed to EUR 2.94 billion in August 2026 from EUR 4.55 billion a year earlier. Imports rose 12.4% year-on-year to EUR 12.9 billion, driven by higher purchases of medical and pharmaceutical products (44.6%), office machines and automatic data processing machines (63.4%), and petroleum, petroleum products and related materials (68.8%). Among key trading partners, imports from Great Britain increased 11.9%, while those from the US fell 21%. Exports declined 1.2% year-on-year to EUR 15.9 billion, reflecting lower shipments of medical and pharmaceutical products (-6.7%) and organic chemicals (-28.6%). However, exports of office machines and automatic data processing machines surged 141.5%, while those of petroleum, petroleum products and related materials rose 122.9%. Exports to Great Britain and Northern Ireland increased 23.9% and 7%, respectively, while shipments to the US fell 9%.

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.