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Ireland trade in 2024

In 2024, Ireland exported $259.8 billion and imported $138.9 billion, a trade surplus of $120.9 billion. It was the world's 29th-largest exporter, with 1.1% of world exports. Its top export was vaccines, blood and antisera (24.4% of the total) and its main trading partner was the United States (28.3% of its trade).

Summary

Exports
$259.8billion
Imports
$138.9billion
Trade balance
+$120.9billion
Routes to the main partners. Width: trade value; color: estimated transport mode.SeaAirLand
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Products

What it exports

Vaccines, blood and antisera (24.4%) and medicines in measured doses or retail packs (12.8%) together make up 37.2% of its exports.

  1. Vaccines, blood and antisera$63.4 billion · 24.4%
    Main partner: United States
  2. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$33.3 billion · 12.8%
    Main partner: United States
  3. Hormones$18.4 billion · 7.1%
    Main partner: United States
  4. Microchips$14 billion · 5.4%
    Main partner: China
  5. Nitrogen heterocyclic compounds$13.1 billion · 5.1%
    Main partner: United States
  6. Fragrance mixtures$12.4 billion · 4.8%
    Main partner: United States
  7. Medical and dental instruments$10.7 billion · 4.1%
    Main partner: Netherlands
  8. Orthopedic and hearing devices$9 billion · 3.5%
    Main partner: United States
  9. Airplanes and helicopters$6.8 billion · 2.6%
    Main partner: United States
  10. Nucleic acids and other heterocycles$5.3 billion · 2%
    Main partner: Germany

What it imports

Airplanes and helicopters (12.8%) and vaccines, blood and antisera (5.1%) together make up 17.9% of its imports.

  1. Airplanes and helicopters$17.8 billion · 12.8%
    Main partner: France
  2. Vaccines, blood and antisera$7.1 billion · 5.1%
    Main partner: United States
  3. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$5.4 billion · 3.9%
    Main partner: United Kingdom
  4. Microchips$4.9 billion · 3.5%
    Main partner: Israel
  5. Computer and office machine parts$4.8 billion · 3.5%
    Main partner: Taiwan
  6. Refined petroleum$4.7 billion · 3.4%
    Main partner: United Kingdom
  7. Cars$4.4 billion · 3.2%
    Main partner: Germany
  8. Computers$4.1 billion · 3%
    Main partner: China
  9. Nitrogen heterocyclic compounds$4.1 billion · 3%
    Main partner: France
  10. Cameras and broadcast equipment$2.9 billion · 2.1%
    Main partner: China
By Harmonized System chapter (96)
ChapterExportsImports
30 · Pharmaceuticals$101.1 billion$13.3 billion
29 · Organic chemicals$41 billion$8.4 billion
90 · Precision and medical instruments$23.4 billion$5.9 billion
85 · Electrical and electronic equipment$22.1 billion$14.2 billion
33 · Perfumes and cosmetics$13 billion$1.8 billion
84 · Mechanical machinery$10.4 billion$19.6 billion
88 · Aircraft and spacecraft$7.1 billion$18.6 billion
39 · Plastics$4.7 billion$4.6 billion
04 · Dairy, eggs and honey$4.5 billion$1.1 billion
02 · Meat and offal$4.2 billion$722 million
38 · Miscellaneous chemicals$3.7 billion$951 million
19 · Baked goods and cereal products$2.8 billion$1.4 billion
22 · Beverages and spirits$2.7 billion$1.6 billion
28 · Inorganic chemicals$2.5 billion$629 million
21 · Food preparations$1.5 billion$866 million
27 · Oil, gas and coal$1 billion$8.9 billion
01 · Live animals$907 million$401 million
16 · Prepared meat and fish$871 million$659 million
35 · Glues, starches and enzymes$825 million$293 million
71 · Gems and precious metals$814 million$1.2 billion
73 · Iron and steel products$741 million$1.7 billion
23 · Animal feed and food waste$693 million$1.5 billion
44 · Wood$628 million$881 million
87 · Vehicles$628 million$6.8 billion
03 · Fish and seafood$567 million$301 million
18 · Cocoa and chocolate$411 million$621 million
20 · Preserved fruit and vegetables$356 million$849 million
72 · Iron and steel$345 million$887 million
25 · Salt, stone and cement$332 million$243 million
94 · Furniture and lighting$307 million$1.5 billion
48 · Paper and paperboard$285 million$1.4 billion
68 · Stone, plaster and cement articles$268 million$395 million
83 · Miscellaneous metal goods$268 million$354 million
49 · Books and printed matter$262 million$398 million
17 · Sugar and sweets$247 million$512 million
95 · Toys and sports gear$237 million$735 million
15 · Fats and oils$236 million$660 million
32 · Dyes, paints and tanning agents$229 million$402 million
91 · Watches and clocks$205 million$356 million
40 · Rubber$195 million$726 million
34 · Soap and cleaning products$190 million$543 million
76 · Aluminum$187 million$666 million
07 · Vegetables$187 million$499 million
62 · Woven clothing$174 million$1.3 billion
61 · Knitted clothing$167 million$1.6 billion
82 · Tools and cutlery$160 million$309 million
96 · Other manufactured goods$142 million$191 million
70 · Glass$136 million$517 million
10 · Cereals$135 million$667 million
74 · Copper$118 million$185 million
05 · Other animal products$109 million$39 million
47 · Wood pulp$88 million$49 million
13 · Gums and plant extracts$88 million$92 million
41 · Hides and leather$76 million$6 million
08 · Fruit and nuts$68 million$586 million
55 · Synthetic staple fibers$66 million$28 million
31 · Fertilizers$62 million$547 million
63 · Home textiles and used clothing$61 million$354 million
37 · Photographic goods$60 million$551 million
11 · Milling products and malt$55 million$244 million
64 · Footwear$52 million$793 million
54 · Synthetic filaments$50 million$39 million
12 · Oilseeds and grains$48 million$117 million
42 · Leather goods and bags$48 million$304 million
09 · Coffee, tea and spices$47 million$229 million
78 · Lead$45 million$39 million
51 · Wool$39 million$26 million
97 · Art and antiques$37 million$42 million
06 · Live plants and flowers$37 million$183 million
86 · Railway equipment$35 million$108 million
57 · Carpets and rugs$31 million$96 million
75 · Nickel$30 million$93 million
89 · Ships and boats$27 million$114 million
36 · Explosives and matches$26 million$6 million
69 · Ceramics$25 million$218 million
56 · Felt, nonwovens and rope$25 million$144 million
81 · Other base metals$23 million$183 million
60 · Knitted fabric$20 million$31 million
59 · Coated and technical textiles$16 million$54 million
26 · Ores and slag$14 million$270 million
67 · Feathers and artificial flowers$12 million$41 million
65 · Hats$8 million$63 million
53 · Other plant fibers$6 million$6 million
58 · Special fabrics and lace$5 million$17 million
14 · Other plant products$5 million$5 million
92 · Musical instruments$5 million$30 million
93 · Weapons and ammunition$3 million$14 million
79 · Zinc$2 million$28 million
52 · Cotton$1 million$8 million
24 · Tobacco$1 million$72 million
66 · Umbrellas and canes$737 thousand$14 million
80 · Tin$669 thousand$8 million
43 · Fur and fur goods$344 thousand$2 million
46 · Wicker and basketware$248 thousand$10 million
50 · Silk$183 thousand$864 thousand
45 · Cork$92 thousand$5 million

Trading partners

The United States is its main destination (34.2% of exports) and source (17.3% of imports).

Who it sells to

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
United States88.834.2%Air
Germany25.49.8%Air
United Kingdom20.57.9%Land
China17.26.6%Air
Netherlands14.15.4%Air
Belgium10.74.1%Air
France10.23.9%Air
Italy7.93%Air
Japan6.42.5%Air
Malaysia5.52.1%Air

Who it buys from

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
United States2417.3%Air
United Kingdom23.817.1%Land
China12.38.9%Air
France12.28.8%Air
Germany10.57.6%Air
Netherlands7.75.6%Sea
Israel4.23%Air
Italy3.72.6%Sea
Spain3.22.3%Sea
Belgium3.12.2%Sea

Overview 1995–2024

In 2024, Ireland accounted for 1.1% of world exports, compared with 0.85% in 1995.

Exports and imports

Exports grew 6-fold since 1995

USD billions (current). Bars: trade balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 260
  • Imports 139
  • Balance +121

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$42.9 billion$31.7 billion$11.2 billion
1996$45.4 billion$37.7 billion$7.7 billion
1997$49.7 billion$42.3 billion$7.4 billion
1998$61.5 billion$44.6 billion$17 billion
1999$70.5 billion$48 billion$22.5 billion
2000$79.9 billion$51.5 billion$28.4 billion
2001$85.4 billion$51.8 billion$33.6 billion
2002$101.4 billion$54.2 billion$47.2 billion
2003$115.6 billion$56.9 billion$58.7 billion
2004$125.9 billion$65.9 billion$59.9 billion
2005$133.9 billion$74.8 billion$59.1 billion
2006$131.9 billion$80.9 billion$51 billion
2007$149.9 billion$90.2 billion$59.8 billion
2008$151 billion$85.9 billion$65.1 billion
2009$137.2 billion$65 billion$72.1 billion
2010$126.5 billion$63.5 billion$63 billion
2011$145.8 billion$71.9 billion$73.9 billion
2012$133.4 billion$73.1 billion$60.3 billion
2013$130.8 billion$76 billion$54.8 billion
2014$132 billion$83.7 billion$48.3 billion
2015$138.8 billion$77.4 billion$61.4 billion
2016$155 billion$80.5 billion$74.5 billion
2017$167.3 billion$90.3 billion$76.9 billion
2018$186.2 billion$102.6 billion$83.5 billion
2019$196.8 billion$97.7 billion$99.1 billion
2020$202.1 billion$96.6 billion$105.5 billion
2021$220.8 billion$121.4 billion$99.5 billion
2022$241.2 billion$144 billion$97.3 billion
2023$245.5 billion$145.5 billion$100 billion
2024$259.8 billion$138.9 billion$120.9 billion

World rank

Ireland holds steady at 29th among the world's exporters

Rank among 222 countries by export value (1st at the top).

  • 29th in 1995
  • 29th in 2024

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearRank
199529th
199629th
199728th
199823rd
199920th
200022nd
200119th
200217th
200317th
200419th
200520th
200625th
200726th
200830th
200925th
201030th
201132nd
201234th
201335th
201434th
201531st
201630th
201730th
201830th
201929th
202026th
202129th
202230th
202329th
202429th

What it sells

Pharmaceuticals became its top export group: from 6% to 39%

% of exports by Harmonized System chapter.

  • Other 14%
  • Plastics 2%
  • Aircraft and spacecraft 3%
  • Mechanical machinery 4%
  • Perfumes and cosmetics 5%
  • Electrical and electronic equipment 9%
  • Precision and medical instruments 9%
  • Organic chemicals 16%
  • Pharmaceuticals 39%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Chapter19952024
Pharmaceuticals5.7%38.9%
Organic chemicals14.2%15.8%
Precision and medical instruments3.6%9%
Electrical and electronic equipment17.2%8.5%
Perfumes and cosmetics1.9%5%
Mechanical machinery19.3%4%
Aircraft and spacecraft0.5%2.7%
Plastics1.5%1.8%
Other36.3%14.2%

Who it trades with

The United Kingdom went from 29% to 11% of Ireland's trade

% of total trade (exports + imports) with each partner.

  • United States 28%
  • United Kingdom 11%
  • Germany 9%
  • China 7%
  • France 6%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Partner19952024
United States12.9%28.3%
United Kingdom29.2%11.1%
Germany10.6%9%
China0.57%7.4%
France6.7%5.6%

Production hubs

Largest industrial emission sources (Climate TRACE, 2025)

  • Aughinish Alumina RefineryAluminum · 2.1 Mt CO₂e
  • Slyne - Erris basinOil and gas · 2 Mt CO₂e
  • Huntstown power stationPower · 1.1 Mt CO₂e
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Largest economic production hubs (gridded GDP, 2024)

  • Dublin$307.4 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
  • Cork$130.9 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
  • Limerick$37.6 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
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Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. Ranks are computed among the countries with data each year. Services are not included. Data up to 2024.

Neighboring countries

Main partners

See all countries