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. source: Central Statistics Office Ireland

Ireland recorded a trade surplus of 3959452 EUR Thousand in March of 2026. Balance of Trade in Ireland averaged 1937853.47 EUR Thousand from 1970 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 24495294.00 EUR Thousand in March of 2025 and a record low of -280890.00 EUR Thousand in January of 1982. This page provides the latest reported value for - Ireland Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Ireland Balance of Trade - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2026.

Ireland recorded a trade surplus of 3959452 EUR Thousand in March of 2026. Balance of Trade in Ireland is expected to be 5165000.00 EUR Thousand by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Ireland Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 5510000.00 EUR Thousand in 2027 and 5680000.00 EUR Thousand in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-04-15 10:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Feb €4.6B €4.8B €3.5B
2026-05-15 10:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Mar €4.0B €4.1B €9.5B
2026-06-17 10:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Apr €4.0B €6.5B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade 3959452.00 4105206.00 EUR Thousand Mar 2026
Capital Flows 1170.00 8641.00 EUR Million Mar 2026
Current Account 17442.00 12807.00 EUR Million Mar 2026
Exports 18258483.00 15444540.00 EUR Thousand Mar 2026
External Debt 3381954.00 3240754.00 EUR Million Mar 2026
Foreign Direct Investment 25451.00 10809.00 EUR Million Mar 2026
Imports 14299031.00 11339334.00 EUR Thousand Mar 2026
Terms of Trade 84.00 88.10 points Mar 2026


Ireland Balance of Trade
Ireland posts regular trade surpluses since 1985. Its main exports are chemicals and related products, machinery, and food and live animals. In the meantime, its main imports are machinery, transport equipment, and fuel. Ireland's main exporting partners are the United States, other EU member-states, and Great Britain. On the other hand, the majority of imports are from the rest of the world, mainly due to energy purchases, followed by other EU states.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
3959452.00 4105206.00 24495294.00 -280890.00 1970 - 2026 EUR Thousand Monthly
Current Prices, NSA

News Stream
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