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International comparison:
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For more information on this release:
E-mail: Trade@cso.ie CiarĂ¡n Counihan (+353) 1 498 4215 Damian Malone (+353) 1 498 4206
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-5155
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Goods Exports and Imports

December 2017

€ million
 ExportsImportsSurplus
Jan-Dec 2016119,29274,13145,162
Jan-Dec 2017122,13976,88945,250
% change+ 2.4+ 3.7+ 0.2
Seasonally adjusted
October 20179,7276,3793,349
November 20179,8016,5233,278
December 201710,4846,6343,849

Record level of exports in 2017

Figure 1 Goods exports and Imports
go to full release

Preliminary figures for 2017 show that exports totalled €122,139 million in 2017, the highest annual total on record.  This is an increase of €2,846 million (+2%) over 2016.  The preliminary trade surplus for 2017 was €45,250 million.

The largest increase was in exports of Medical and pharmaceutical products which increased by €5,232 million (+17%) to €35,410 million in 2017 compared with 2016.  Exports of Food and live animals increased by €1,257 million (+12%) to €11,354 million.

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: From the October 2017 External trade release, the CSO have expanded the range of detailed trade data available on CSO’s StatBank.  The extra detail includes further breakdown of trade at SITC2 level by country and area.  The countries and area for which this detail is available are those included in Table 4 of the release.  The data is available on a month by month basis for the periods January 2015 to the latest month of release and on an annual basis from 2010 to 2016.  Links to these data are contained within the body of the release.  The latest month's data should be treated as provisional.  For queries on trade with countries not included in the list, please contact trade@cso.ie.
Exports
Total Exports 2.3860898480709
Food and live animals12.4548316860965
Chemicals and related products2.08104266653621
Machinery and transport equipment-4.29210530566567
Miscellaneous manufactured articles1.28726261819373

Imports increase in 2017

Imports in 2017 also grew to a record level, increasing by €2,758 million (+4%) to €76,889 million compared with 2016.

Imports of Chemicals and related products increased by €2,460 million (+16%) to €17,423 million in 2017 compared with 2016.  Imports of Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials increased by €903 million (+24%) to €4,679 million over the same period.

Imports of Other transport equipment, including aircraft decreased by €1,505 million (-9%) to €14,961 million in 2017.  Imports of Road vehicles decreased by €265 million (-7%) to €3,511 million.

Imports
Total Imports 3.72107934716503
Food and live animals6.98878064780599
Mineral fuels23.9203623025279
Chemicals and related products16.4406426930351
Machinery and transport equipment-4.90183521171471

Exports to Great Britain increase in 2017

Exports to Great Britain increased by €1,074 million (+8%) to €14,454 million in 2017 compared with 2016. The increase in exports is due to increases in Chemicals and related products of €875 million (+22%) and Food and live animals of €290 million (+8%). 

Imports from Great Britain increased by €1,506 million (+10%) to €17,303 million in the same period.  The main increases in imports were of Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials which grew by €637 million (+31%) to €2,709 million and of Chemicals and related products which increased by €612 million (+26%) to €2,996 million.

Exports to the USA increased by €1,299 million (+4%) to €33,197 million in 2017.  Exports to EU countries increased by €2,668 million (+4%) to €62,690 million, while exports to the non-EU countries increased by €178 million (+0.3%) in 2017.

Imports from EU countries increased by €1,412 million (+3%) to €45,281 million.  Imports from non-EU countries increased by €1,347 million (+4%) to €31,608 million in 2017.

Seasonally adjusted goods exports increase in December

Preliminary figures for December 2017 show that seasonally adjusted goods exports increased by €682 million (+7%) to €10,484 million compared with November 2017.

Seasonally adjusted goods imports also increased, by €112 million (+2%) to €6,634 million, leading to an increase of €571 million (+17%) in the seasonally adjusted trade surplus to €3,849 million in December 2017 (see Table 2).

Exports of Organic chemicals increase in December

The (unadjusted) value of goods exports for December 2017 was €9,810 million, representing an increase of €398 million (+4%) when compared with December 2016. 

Exports of Organic chemicals increased by €646 million (+53%) to €1,871 million in December 2017 compared with December 2016.

Exports of Medical and pharmaceutical products increased by €350 million (+16%) to €2,563 million over the same comparative period.

Exports of Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances decreased by €367 million (-46%) to €424 million.

Imports of aircraft decrease in December

The (unadjusted) value of goods imports for December 2017 was €6,420 million, representing a decrease of €150 million (-2%) when compared with December 2016. 

Imports of Other transport equipment, including aircraft decreased by €593 million (-37%) to €1,024 million in December 2017 compared with December 2016.

Imports of Chemicals and related products increased by €433 million (+44%) to €1,425 million in December 2017.

The value of goods imports for December 2017 excluding SITC 79 (Other transport equipment, including aircraft) was €5,395 million, an increase of €443 million (+9%) when compared with the corresponding December 2016 figure of €4,952 million.

Geographic breakdown of goods exports and imports

The EU accounted for €5,472 million (56%) of total goods exports in December 2017, of which €1,621 million went to Belgium and €1,131 million to Great Britain.

The USA was the main non-EU destination accounting for €2,457 million (25%) of total exports in December 2017.

Exports to the EU increased by €587 million (+12%) in December 2017 compared with December 2016, while exports to non-EU countries decreased by €189 million (-4%) over the same period.

The EU accounted for €4,038 (63%) of the value of goods imports in December 2017, with €1,562 million (24%) of total imports coming from Great Britain.

The USA with €1,072 million (17%) and China with €421 million (7%) were the main non-EU sources of imports.

Imports from the EU decreased by €325 million (-7%) in December 2017 compared with December 2016.  Imports from non-EU countries increased by €175 million (+8%) over the same period.

This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
Table 1 Goods Exports and Imports summary analysis
PeriodValue1Volume index2Unit value index2 
ExportsImportsTrade surplusBase year 2010=100
€m€m€mExportsImportsExportsImportsTerms of trade3
2010 90,92448,69542,229 100.0  100.0  100.0  100.0  100.0
201193,19153,03540,155 106.1  110.4  96.6  98.7  97.9
2012 93,50756,17937,328 100.6  120.2  102.2  96.0  106.5
201389,18255,78733,394 101.1  123.5  97.0  92.8  104.6
201492,61662,15830,458 103.8  130.1  98.2  98.1  100.1
2015112,40770,11142,296 115.5  143.6  106.8  100.3  106.5
2016119,29274,13145,162 125.6  158.2  102.7  93.3  110.2
2017122,13976,88945,250..........
         
2014Quarter 121,76515,2276,538 102.1  129.8  93.7  96.5  97.2
 Quarter 223,55914,7458,814 105.9  127.7  97.8  94.9  103.0
 Quarter 323,27115,3457,926 103.6  127.5  98.9  98.9  100.0
 Quarter 424,02116,8407,180 103.3  139.1  102.3  99.5  102.9
2015Quarter 126,04316,8649,179 110.0  138.6  104.0  99.9  104.2
 Quarter 228,70516,98311,721 114.7  134.9  110.1  103.6  106.4
 Quarter 327,47716,73810,739 114.5  134.9  105.5  102.1  103.5
 Quarter 430,18319,52610,657 123.6  168.1  107.4  95.4  112.5
2016Quarter 127,81317,60010,214 119.5  158.0  100.7  89.4  112.6
 Quarter 230,30718,91911,388 129.0  159.5  102.0  94.8  107.6
 Quarter 330,36118,10612,254 126.5  152.5  103.6  94.2  110.1
 Quarter 430,81219,50611,306 127.6  162.8  104.6  94.7  110.5
2017Quarter 132,14118,89713,244 138.6  157.9  102.1  98.3  103.8
 Quarter 231,05920,60010,458 136.7  179.0  99.9  94.1  106.2
 Quarter 328,92017,41211,508 132.9  148.9  96.0  95.5  100.5
 Quarter 430,01919,98010,040 142.5  171.8  92.6  95.6  96.9
         
2014January7,0855,1811,904 99.6  131.8  93.9  96.9  96.9
 February6,9594,6112,348 98.9  116.3  92.9  97.7  95.1
 March7,7205,4342,286 107.9  141.3  94.4  94.8  99.6
 April7,3224,8662,455 102.7  129.3  94.1  92.7  101.5
 May8,1584,9723,187 109.6  130.1  98.2  94.2  104.2
 June8,0804,9073,172 105.4  123.6  101.2  97.9  103.4
 July7,2525,2671,984 96.3  133.1  99.4  97.5  101.9
 August7,7734,7952,978 104.8  118.7  97.9  99.6  98.3
 September8,2475,2832,964 109.6  130.8  99.3  99.6  99.7
 October7,9325,5862,347 102.7  139.0  101.9  99.0  102.9
 November7,8645,5842,280 99.1  138.2  104.7  99.5  105.2
 December8,2245,6712,553 108.1  140.0  100.4  99.8  100.6
          
2015January8,2905,3682,922 106.3  131.7  102.9  100.5  102.4
 February8,3485,1363,212 106.9  129.5  103.0  97.8  105.4
 March9,4056,3603,045 116.8  154.6  106.2  101.4  104.8
 April9,6145,6373,977 115.0  131.8  110.3  105.4  104.6
 May9,1805,5353,645 109.5  127.7  110.6  106.8  103.6
 June9,9115,8114,099 119.5  145.3  109.4  98.5  111.0
 July9,4135,7653,648 115.1  138.3  107.9  102.7  105.0
 August8,6265,2093,416 112.1  122.5  101.6  104.8  97.0
 September9,4385,7633,675 116.3  143.8  107.1  98.7  108.5
 October10,7546,3364,418 128.0  164.7  110.9  94.8  116.9
 November10,1796,1963,983 128.2  158.0  104.8  96.6  108.4
 December9,2516,9942,256 114.5  181.6  106.6  94.9  112.3
         
2016January8,8935,1363,757 120.9  142.6  95.6  87.0  110.0
 February8,5665,4733,093 105.0  144.4  106.0  91.6  115.8
 March10,3546,9913,364 132.6  187.0  100.6  89.7  112.1
 April10,0535,5854,468 125.8  144.6  104.1  93.4  111.5
 May9,3856,4042,982 123.6  164.7  99.0  94.2  105.0
 June10,8686,9303,938 137.7  169.3  102.8  96.7  106.4
 July9,4115,7313,680 120.4  144.2  101.9  96.2  106.0
 August10,4645,7154,750 130.8  146.1  103.4  93.1  111.1
 September10,4866,6613,824 128.2  167.1  105.6  93.4  113.1
 October10,1995,7004,499 129.3  142.6  103.1  95.9  107.5
 November11,2017,2363,965 140.6  183.9  104.1  94.4  110.3
 December9,4126,5702,842 113.0  162.0  106.6  93.7  113.8
         
20174January9,9045,7244,180 125.1  143.1  104.5  98.5  106.0
 February10,2006,2493,950 136.1  156.7  98.9  98.3  100.6
March12,0376,9245,113 154.6  174.0  102.8  98.1  104.8
April9,8636,5663,296 127.4  164.7  102.0  96.6  105.6
May10,5487,1743,374 140.2  188.9  99.3  93.6  106.1
June10,6486,8603,788 142.6  183.5  98.5  92.1  107.0
July9,1675,3013,865 118.4  135.7  102.1  96.3  106.1
August9,6175,9973,620 133.1  154.5  95.0  93.9  101.1
September10,1366,1134,023 147.2  156.4  90.9  96.3  94.3
October9,5366,6222,914 139.7  175.8  90.1  92.8  97.1
November10,6746,9393,736 149.3  177.2  94.4  96.5  97.8
 December9,8106,4203,390 138.6  162.3  93.4  97.5  95.8
1 Trade statistics revised since 2000, see background notes.
2 Monthly data have been rescaled to make their average equal to the annual.
3 Export unit value index divided by Import unit value index.
4 Revised. December 2017 is based on current Intrastat response levels. See background notes.
.. Indices are not yet available.
Table 2 Goods Exports and Imports seasonally adjusted1 series
PeriodValueVolume index
ExportsImportsTrade surplusBase year 2010=100
€m€m€mExportsImports
2014Quarter 121,80714,4487,359 102.0  124.2
 Quarter 223,18314,8348,349 105.1  128.0
 Quarter 323,36916,2647,105 104.0  134.1
 Quarter 424,62416,8047,820 105.5  138.8
2015Quarter 126,28616,06210,224 112.0  130.9
 Quarter 228,46017,27111,189 112.9  134.8
 Quarter 327,21117,6129,599 113.7  143.5
 Quarter 430,82319,20511,618 125.8  167.6
2016Quarter 127,86616,66011,206 119.7  149.6
 Quarter 229,75919,07510,684 126.5  161.3
 Quarter 330,22119,04211,178 125.7  161.2
 Quarter 431,01019,26211,749 129.0  159.6
2017Quarter 132,94118,39114,550 139.2  152.2
 Quarter 230,25320,8959,358 133.7  183.0
 Quarter 329,27018,30110,969 135.2  158.8
 Quarter 430,01219,53610,476 144.3  165.9
       
2014January7,2734,7132,560 102.9  121.7
 February7,4154,6122,803 104.2  117.9
 March7,1195,1231,996 99.0  133.0
 April7,0804,5722,508 100.6  123.0
 May8,1715,2642,907 109.9  134.6
 June7,9324,9982,934 104.8  126.4
 July6,9515,5911,360 92.7  140.2
 August8,3885,3843,004 113.3  131.3
 September8,0305,2892,741 105.9  130.7
 October7,8735,5092,364 100.2  135.3
 November7,4085,7991,609 94.1  144.6
 December9,3435,4963,848 122.2  136.4
       
2015January8,6415,0073,633 110.1  126.5
 February8,9665,3163,650 115.2  130.5
 March8,6795,7392,941 110.6  135.6
 April9,7405,6784,061 117.7  129.0
 May9,3765,8873,489 107.8  133.7
 June9,3455,7063,639 113.3  141.7
 July9,0766,1022,974 113.6  147.5
 August9,1505,7253,425 117.8  137.4
 September8,9865,7863,200 109.6  145.7
 October10,8206,2504,570 128.0  165.5
 November9,5216,1083,413 120.4  158.1
 December10,4826,8463,635 129.0  179.1
       
2016January9,4495,0844,365 127.0  145.3
 February8,9445,5203,424 108.7  143.8
 March9,4736,0563,417 123.3  159.6
 April9,8755,7124,163 125.3  148.7
 May9,6436,5033,140 124.8  167.8
 June10,2416,8603,381 129.4  167.4
 July9,2026,1883,014 118.3  156.8
 August 10,6985,9784,720 132.1  155.2
 September10,3216,8763,444 126.7  171.6
 October10,3565,7914,565 130.1  144.4
 November10,4206,8483,572 130.0  171.3
 December10,2346,6233,612 127.0  163.1
       
2017January10,7745,6025,172 131.9  139.4
 February11,1236,7184,405 142.9  166.2
 March11,0446,0714,973 142.9  151.1
 April9,8607,0972,763 128.9  178.8
 May10,5467,0193,527 137.5  187.7
 June9,8476,7793,068 134.6  182.6
 July9,7165,6394,077 125.6  146.3
 August9,6906,3143,376 133.4  163.9
 September9,8636,3483,515 146.6  166.2
 October9,7276,3793,349 138.4  167.7
 November9,8016,5233,278 138.4  163.8
 December10,4846,6343,849 156.0  166.3
1 Based on seasonal patterns up to December 2016. Accordingly all values in this table may have been revised.
Table 3 Goods Exports and Imports classified by commodity1
€million
SITC (Rev 4)ExportsImports
DecDecJan-DecJan-DecDecDecJan-DecJan-Dec
20162017201620172016201720162017
0Food and live animals96795310,09611,3546676396,6897,156
0Live animals other than animals of Division 03505934044711474284296
1Meat and meat preparations3663713,5963,8449292956978
2Dairy products and birds' eggs1581841,7602,3975966611784
3Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and preparations thereof61615556052223263291
4Cereals and cereal preparations3435381416851001,0491,096
5Vegetables and fruit2322278299931021,2111,251
6Sugars, sugar preparations and honey11102121582429369376
7Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and manufactures thereof28253743654744569591
8Feeding stuff for animals (excluding unmilled cereals)27292833236956741781
9Miscellaneous edible products and preparations2101592,3172,5006255636713
1Beverages and tobacco1031131,3331,3607566914900
11Beverages 1031131,2981,3567266833816
12Tobacco and tobacco manufactures00365308184
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels1331601,5291,8036964824897
21Hides, skins and furskins, raw11121271340000
22Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits 10148242833
23Crude rubber (including synthetic and reclaimed) 0011111012
24Cork and wood861571401512157159
25Pulp and waste paper666574425255
26Textile fibres and their wastes99133129111513
27Crude fertilisers and minerals (excluding coal, petroleum and precious stones)991251301312138170
28Metalliferous ores and metal scrap791027831,0482017225243
29Crude animal and vegetable materials nes11161241391514200211
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials67886911,0253694133,7764,679
32Coal, coke and briquettes569894184142168
33Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials55665257922813062,8983,656
34Gas, natural and manufactured2013146891720795
35Electric current516551261111660
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes8878932218245263
41Animal oils and fats776981212020
42Fixed vegetable fats and oils117111815197223
43Animal or vegetable fats and oils, processed; waxes0021222720
5Chemicals and related products4,4005,39566,38567,7679931,42514,96317,423
51Organic chemicals1,2251,87123,63719,7622895714,2723,745
52Inorganic chemicals10181641562717280319
53Dyeing, tanning and colouring materials2682613281516223247
54Medical and pharmaceutical products2,2132,56330,17835,4103425036,2418,811
55Essential oils; perfume materials; toilet and cleansing preparations6025877,8737,5761331261,4161,482
56Fertilisers (other than those of Division 27)01573321329368
57Plastics in primary forms30273583575762809931
58Plastics in non-primary forms31344714883940569601
59Chemical materials and products nes2632863,4383,6845870825919
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material1531602,1442,2663743684,7515,036
61Leather; leather manufactures nes; dressed furskins333943212220
62Rubber manufactures nes4579782020299296
63Cork and wood manufactures (excluding furniture)19202582872217261283
64Paper, paperboard and articles thereof12111571576967863871
65Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up articles and related products11111671483338454480
66Non-metallic mineral manufactures nes31334544684244530565
67Iron and steel14131631724949648726
68Non-ferrous metals57831063646532597
69Manufactures of metals nes5457744807100851,1411,198
7Machinery and transport equipment2,2781,65821,42020,5013,0742,50031,58130,033
71Power generating machinery and equipment566766878484848281,016
72Machinery specialised for particular industries62946867561081421,2651,341
73Metalworking machinery222433128116116
74General industrial machinery and equipment nes and parts nes1271711,6831,8581331251,5951,573
75Office machines and automatic data processing machines (including computers)4443013,7823,3923133213,4163,332
76Telecommunications and sound equipment104859271,0221781741,6341,639
77Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances nes and parts7914247,2926,4372102102,4842,545
78Road vehicles (including air-cushion vehicles)25223173094174103,7773,511
79Other transport equipment (including aircraft)6674936,0415,9101,6181,02416,46614,961
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles1,2151,12214,64514,8347457018,2538,261
81Prefab buildings; plumbing and electrical fixtures and fittings10121591482123247266
82Furniture and parts thereof; bedding, cushions etc14141881824439446475
83Travel goods, handbags and similar containers2226251414139150
84Articles of apparel; clothing accessories38183492631591591,8831,839
85Footwear6450413439390415
87Professional, scientific and controlling apparatus nes4714335,9706,0281441341,7051,711
88Photographic apparatus; optical goods; watches and clocks1001011,2401,3443432421419
89Miscellaneous manufactured articles nes5745396,6636,8022952603,0222,986
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere34293363893638374432
Unclassified estimates2531246327461461891,7611,809
           
Total9,4129,810119,292122,1396,5706,42074,13176,889
1 Trade statistics revised since 2000. December 2017 is based on current Intrastat response levels. See background notes.
2 Estimates for which a commodity classification is not available.
Table 4 Goods Exports and Imports classified by country1
€million
CountryExportsImports
DecDecJan-DecJan-DecDecDecJan-DecJan-Dec
20162017201620172016201720162017
Austria34223693652028267284
Belgium1,0281,62114,61713,3411101031,3701,395
Bulgaria658084114124
Croatia333837002810
Cyprus2333260034
Czech Republic26483694133276402439
Denmark52576156474433510426
Estonia224221111612
Finland3429257326713153163
France4353805,0695,3151,2739389,9629,617
Germany7427468,02510,0306435406,7866,842
Great Britain1,0761,13113,38014,4541,4661,56215,79717,303
Greece2913282329454762
Hungary 2436297298854146163
Italy 2202152,4152,6051261291,4431,586
Latvia335963724247
Lithuania1234231267474
Luxembourg71267120233031
Malta42443201119
Netherlands4904955,8955,9192001972,6162,412
Northern Ireland1431511,6551,961951041,0751,268
Poland1161501,3711,3165744576620
Portugal39314234572313251251
Romania1722278313118125101
Slovakia447758657549
Slovenia2499284223730
Spain1832112,9722,592981001,1311,307
Sweden59557897423745453497
EU country not specified279133787217624401257
Total EU4,8855,47260,02262,6904,3634,03843,86945,281
  of which United Kingdom1,2191,28215,03416,4161,5611,66616,87218,571
Euro-Zone33,2823,80240,73941,7032,5222,08524,24024,174
         
Australia49761,476889371014299
Brazil22132281821615422222
Canada561219361,0913540517604
China45532963,7635,0704034214,2414,513
India35242963533642544683
Japan2092262,8872,364901291,2331,207
Malaysia20202131952698306472
Mexico105981,3581,4283119350268
Norway2628255395127591,1291,131
Russia25283694973112189310
Saudi Arabia846081670511208
Singapore54466296851510393309
South Africa21222292438694102
South Korea664793063714386891974
Switzerland4094146,3186,21241921,433602
Taiwan15342172672125347297
Thailand1672061653834446386
Turkey39485215303754495571
USA2,3762,45731,89833,1978481,07213,96615,629
Other countries2982725,2533,9381601332,1092,404
Country unknown55014704076323994817
Total Non-EU4,5274,33859,27059,4492,2072,38230,26131,608
         
Total9,4129,810119,292122,1396,5706,42074,13176,889
1 Trade statistics revised since 2000. December 2017 is based on current Intrastat response levels. See background notes.
2 Includes estimates for traders below the Intrastat threshold and transactions where the EU country was not specified.
3 Euro-zone members from January 2015: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Malta, Cyprus, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
4 China includes Hong Kong and Macao.
5 Trade for which the country of origin or country of final destination is unknown.
Table 5 Goods Exports and Imports classified by commodity and principal countries1
€million
  ExportsImports
Country by Section level of SITCDecDecJan-DecJan-DecDecDecJan-DecJan-Dec
20162017201620172016201720162017
Great Britain1,0761,13113,38014,4541,4661,56215,79717,303
0Food and live animals3823823,7073,9963013042,7882,994
1Beverages and tobacco19152202152723322278
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels29253733891212154184
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials46304653641913112,0722,709
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes111112544649
5Chemicals and related products2093183,9954,8701982042,3842,996
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material63659329531321341,7371,810
7Machinery and transport equipment2081712,2062,1472812643,0223,057
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles92901,1341,1652302212,2342,201
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere283433734387841,0391,025
Other EU23,8094,34146,64248,2362,8972,47628,07227,978
0Food and live animals3393633,6544,2532512482,7963,032
1Beverages and tobacco29294233813428409444
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels66997829752723283308
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials20351373113143336371
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes6662761311154164
5Chemicals and related products2,0082,77327,82128,4563993714,9995,660
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material57648158851461341,7591,837
7Machinery and transport equipment7754576,5997,0191,7751,36414,67913,441
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles4754145,9465,3491471321,7941,759
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere3410140453073122863964
USA2,3762,45731,89833,1978481,07213,96615,629
0Food and live animals48264164822127251225
1Beverages and tobacco4354513577111817
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels343844344751
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials00841691024193198
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes00000011
5Chemicals and related products1,1491,30919,03820,5262055813,8146,123
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material21122232242828376391
7Machinery and transport equipment6586396,5775,6414772957,9467,268
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles4314094,9505,475921031,2311,250
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere232595910990105
China35532963,7635,0704034214,2414,513
0Food and live animals7662854904333238
1Beverages and tobacco10640000
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels759073234143
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials00010000
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes00220000
5Chemicals and related products86658369063119336286
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material2424323233413471
7Machinery and transport equipment3451291,5332,6142182262,0492,206
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles35324195331111311,3081,407
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere--00556363
Rest of World1,5981,58523,60921,18295588912,05411,466
0Food and live animals1231211,4661,7199057822868
1Beverages and tobacco11141711831313165161
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels28272473222522300311
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials1235180136351,1751,401
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes0033434449
5Chemicals and related products94992914,69713,0091592503,4312,358
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material11151501723638466528
7Machinery and transport equipment2932634,5063,0793223513,8854,061
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles1821772,1972,3121651141,6861,645
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere216168203668084
         
Total9,4129,810119,292122,1396,5706,42074,13176,889
1 Trade statistics revised since 2000. December 2017 is based on current Intrastat response levels. See background notes.
2 Includes estimates for traders below the Intrastat threshold and transactions where the EU country was not specified.
3 China includes Hong Kong and Macao.

Background Notes

Introduction

Goods Exports and Imports statistics provide data on the movement of goods between countries. The statistics are a combination of Customs-based non-EU trade statistics and data from the Intrastat Survey of Irish traders involved in trade with other EU member states. The collection of trade data is the responsibility of VIMA (a branch of Revenue). The CSO is responsible for processing and disseminating the data.

Revisions to the Trade in Goods statistics

Since May 2015, significant revisions were incorporated into International Trade in Goods statistics.  While the most significant revision is due to recording trade in aircraft on a "transfer of economic ownership" basis, other revisions were incorporated into the Trade data back to 2000. 

Along with the aircraft revisions Goods Exports revisions also include upward revisions due to revaluing some products that had previously been recorded on a “transfer of economic ownership” basis, which was not in line with goods statistics methodology.  Also Goods Imports revisions include downward revisions due to a change in the estimation methodology for non-response.

The technical note gives more detail on the revised trade in aircraft methodology and explains the impact the revisions will have on Trade in Goods, National Accounts and Balance of Payments.

Standard Revisions

Trade figures are subject to revision on the incorporation of late Intrastat and VAT returns and corrections made by traders. When the preliminary results for a month are published, the results for months -1 (November 2017 in this publication), -4 (August 2017) and -8 (April 2017) are revised. Following the move to a "transfer of economic ownership" basis for recording exports and imports of aircraft, SITC 79 figures are subject to revision on the incorporation of transactions from quarterly Balance of Payments (BoP) surveys. Such revisions will generally be incorporated into Goods Exports and Imports releases that coincide with quarterly BoP publications, i.e. when initial results are published for January, April, July and October.

Intrastat System

The Intrastat system has two components. Firstly, the Intrastat survey (conducted by the Revenue Commissioners), in which traders, above the Intrastat survey trade thresholds, make detailed monthly returns giving information on the quantity and value of all exports to or imports from EU countries.

The total number of traders required to make a detailed import return is around 5,200 while around 2,200 must make a detailed export return. The response rate in terms of number of traders in December 2017 was 72%, covering an estimated 94% of the total value of intra-EU trade (these response rates will have increased by the next time data for December is published).

The second component of the Intrastat system is the regular VAT return, on which all traders are required to record the total value of goods imported from and exported to other EU countries. This information provides the basis for determining total EU trade for those traders below the Intrastat survey thresholds. It is also used to maintain the register of EU traders.

Extrastat System

The statistics of trade with non-EU countries are compiled from the documents supplied by importers and exporters to the Customs authorities. The document is the Single Administrative Document (SAD) used for Customs clearance purposes.

Estimation

The figures in this release include estimates for traders above the Intrastat thresholds who did not make detailed returns for the period and for traders below the thresholds who did not provide aggregate intra-EU trade figures on their VAT returns.

Estimates for Intrastat non-respondents are apportioned to individual commodities and countries whenever previous Intrastat returns are available. Estimates for traders below the Intrastat thresholds are assigned to partner country where possible, but not to commodity.

More information is now being processed on lower value transactions. Prior to January 2012, transactions below €254 were grouped together, this value has now decreased to €127. Therefore, this has resulted in more detail being available at commodity level in Table 3 and at country level in Tables 4 and 5.

Unit Value Indices

The monthly unit value index measures monthly unit value trends relative to the annual levels in the preceding year using value weights relating to that year’s trade (Laspeyres index).

The annual index is compiled using value weights for both the current and previous year (Fisher index) to allow for change in the structure of trade in goods.

The monthly index series should be regarded as interim measures suitable for month-to-month comparisons within a given year. Previous monthly indices are revised when late returns are received.

When the annual unit value index is compiled, the monthly unit value indices are rescaled to make their average equal to the annual index.

The unit value index series has been rebased to 2010 from 1990. In the course of this rebasing, a detailed examination of the series was undertaken. This exercise has produced a number of modifications enabling production of a more robust series.

Seasonally Adjusted Series

Monthly exports, imports, trade surplus and the volume series for exports and imports have been seasonally adjusted using the US Bureau of the Census X-11 Variant of the Census Method 11 Seasonal Adjustment Program. In the main, monthly projections are based on series recalculated at the end of the previous year.

Methodology

There are methodological differences between the measurement of exports and imports in this release compared with Industrial Production, National Accounts and Balance of Payments statistics. This release records the movement of all goods over the frontier at the valuation placed on the goods at the time of crossing  the frontier. Industrial Production, National Accounts and Balance of Payments statistics take account of additional aspects of cross-frontier activities such as goods sent abroad for processing where goods cross the frontier without change of ownership. The CSO releases for those statistics provide more information on their methodology.

Services Exports and Imports

The quarterly Balance of Payments (BoP) statistics provide detail on Services exports and imports.

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