Enterprise; Trade and Employment | Trade between Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise; Trade and Employment the extent to which he continues to monitor trade between here and Northern Ireland; the degree to which any particular indicators have emerged in recent times; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

I am happy to assure the Deputy that my Department monitors trade with Northern Ireland on an on-going basis.
Trade in goods with Northern Ireland reached a record value of €7.8 billion in 2021.  Goods exports to Northern Ireland increased by 56% from the previous year to reach a value of €3.8 billion, and goods imports from Northern Ireland increased by 69% compared to 2020, to reach a value of €4 billion.  Since 2016 the value of goods exports has grown by 95% and imports by 162%.
Medical and pharmaceutical products are the top category of both goods exports and imports, accounting for 11% of exports and 16% of imports in 2021.  
Significant growth in trade continues in 2022, with the latest data showing that exports to Northern Ireland were worth €3,605 million in the period January to September 2022, an increase of €892 million (+33%) on the same period in 2021.  Imports from Northern Ireland in the period January to September 2022 increased by €884 million (+30%) to €3,810 million when compared with January to September 2021.