Ireland’s trade surplus widened sharply to EUR 5.3 billion in July 2026, up from EUR 4.1 billion in July 2025. This was the largest surplus since September 2025, supported by robust export growth. Exports rose 12.5% year-on-year to EUR 18.9 billion, driven mainly by higher shipments of live animals excluding fish (+30.0%) and mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials (+116.1%).
By destination, exports increased markedly to Great Britain (+34.0%), the USA (+16.0%), and Northern Ireland (+4.0%).
Imports also rose, though at a slower pace than exports, climbing 7.5% to EUR 13.6 billion. The increase was led by stronger purchases of tobacco and tobacco manufactures (+51.5%) and electric current (+124.3%). By origin, imports grew from the USA (+6.0%) and from the rest of the world (+43.0%), while declining from Great Britain (-1.0%) and Northern Ireland (-16.0%).
Over the January–June period, Ireland posted a trade surplus of EUR 29.1 billion, substantially below the EUR 82.7 billion recorded in the same period a year earlier.
