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Trade of Services

CSO information note, 03 December 2019, 11am
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ExportsImportsNet Services (right axis)
20128.54734760325.867290431-17.319942828
20139.41593159123.509683094-14.093751503
20149.03938358626.414850923-17.375467337
201513.5774572241.176775894-27.599318674
201614.56984904449.490305154-34.92045611
201717.71264036947.461017819-29.74837745
201820.90869329747.125456723-26.216763426

Source publication: International Trade in Services 2018

Get the data: StatBank (BPA04)

In the series above, imports of services from the US were consistently greater than exports of services to the US, as shown by the large negative trade in services deficit. This trade in services deficit was at its lowest value in 2016 at €34.9bn but this balance increased in subsequent years due to increases in the exports of business services. In 2018, the trade in services balance stood at a deficit of €26.2bn. On an international scale, the US made up 25% of Ireland's total imports of services in 2018, accounting for the second largest share of Irish services imports after the EU (36%). In terms of exports, the US accounted for 12% of Ireland’s total exports of services in 2018, representing the second largest share of Irish services exports after the EU (45%).

Source publication: International Trade in Services 2018

Get the data: StatBank (BPA04)

In 2018, business services at €26.4bn (56%) made up the majority of services imports from the US. This service category includes: (a) research and development; (b) operational leasing; (c) legal, accounting and other professional services; (d) advertising and market research; (e) trade related services; (f) architectural, engineering and other technical services; and (g) other services. Imports of business services from the US followed an increasing trend until 2016 where the value of these imports peaked at €32.5bn. The following decrease in business services imports was caused by decreases in research and development imports in 2017 of €6.7bn and in 2018 of €2.6bn where the value of research and development imports stands at €13.9bn. Imports of royalties/licenses represented the second largest component at €8.7bn in 2018 and made up 18% of total imports of services from the US (see Table 1.2 for full details).

Services Imports 2018
US25.3841968897962
UK9.6053262374291
Other EU26.7545395293218
Rest of
World
38.2559373434529
Services Exports 2018
US11.6105888036784
UK15.7055037567263
Other EU29.3724351249743
Rest of
World
43.311472314621
Repairs and ProcessingTransportTourism and TravelInsuranceFinancial ServicesRoyalties/LicencesCommunicationsComputer ServicesOther Services n.e.sBusiness Services
20120.3038036110.5898215641.04210534900.0748563150.0412.949258436
20130.0520.2780338730.6021493920.7457612563.0976532890.1359099020.06812.13032936
20140.1530.4439705730.6370068490.6793569040.1635634150.06815.387703445
20150.2940.6207133520.7082386861.5247220244.1231662786.5552187360.0290.2268001430.06827.026314411
20160.6450.6869982410.827990241.2513697165.1161564818.1216581720.030.2330.07132.507756308
20170.6266343110.9013185081.2474343975.4789596587.8757858310.0391.9184505628.065565144
20180.7175777580.9443660390.7441321965.4705219158.6880463870.012.85904254526.442141632

Please note: in Figure 3.4 some of the services export figures have been supressed for confidentiality reasons, see Table 1.2 for more details. 

Source publication: International Trade in Services 2018

Get the data: StatBank (BPA04)

Figure 3.5 depicts the growth in imports of business services from major Irish trade partners. The series on imports of business services from the US increases significantly after 2014, illustrating Ireland’s high growth in imports of business services from the US compared to the UK and EU. The US accounted for 36.6% of total business services imports in 2018.

United StatesEU28United Kingdom
201212.9513.0834.857
201312.13110.2324.14
201415.38812.7015.339
201527.02615.6495.542
201632.50816.965.953
201728.06519.7656.429
201826.44223.6468.706

Source publication: International Trade in Services 2018

Get the data: StatBank (BPA04)

When breaking business services down into its main components, it is evident that the import of research and development (R&D) services are the largest component in services imports from the US. In 2018, R&D imports were €13.9bn and accounted for 29.5% of total imports of services from the US. Figure 3.6 below illustrates how R&D services imports from the US have become Ireland’s most significant services import since 2012 and growth in business services has largely been driven by increasing trends in R&D services imports. Other business services (which includes consulting, technical and operational leasing services) at €12.6bn, accounted for 27% of total import of services from the US in 2018.

Business Servicesof which: R&D
201212.9492584366.131647081
201312.130329364.171797746
201415.387703445
201527.02631441117.354229398
201632.50775630823.23528238
201728.06556514416.514729768
201826.44214163213.885828541

Please note: in Figure 3.6 above R&D service imports for 2014 have been supressed for confidentiality reasons. 

Source publication: International Trade in Services 2018

Get the data: StatBank (BPA04)

The US is Ireland’s largest provider of R&D services, accounting for 61% of Ireland’s total R&D imports in 2018. This significantly outweighs the share of R&D services from the EU28, which accounted for only 10% of Ireland’s total import of R&D services in 2018. The majority of the value of business service imports consists of ongoing payments to intergroup affiliates in the US for the performance of R&D services on their behalf.

Source publication: International Trade in Services 2018

Get the data: StatBank (BPA04)

Exports of Services to the US

On a global scale, Ireland’s exports of services to the US are small when compared to the value of services exported to the UK and EU28. Exports of services to the US account for only 12% of Ireland’s total global exports in 2018, representing an increase of 1.5% since 2012. Figure 3.8 shows this increasing trend in exports of services to the US in comparison to other global exports.

Imports of R&D Services 2018
US60.6392733941749
EU2810.1916946858216
Rest of World29.1690319200035
Total Global ExportsUKUSEU28
201281.14515.0328.54744.157
201387.51115.8689.41645.793
201499.88917.8849.03953.045
2015120.23821.73313.57861.088
2016135.07624.05514.5766.263
2017161.83126.27917.71373.502
2018180.07728.28220.90881.175

Source publication: International Trade in Services 2018

Get the data: StatBank (BPA04)

Figure 3.9 shows the main components which contribute to the increasing trend in exports of services to the US are business services and royalties/licenses (for the use of outcomes of R&D). Exports of business services to the US have grown in recent years to represent a larger share of total global business services exports.

Repairs and ProcessingTransportTourism and TravelInsuranceFinancial ServicesRoyalties/LicencesCommunicationsComputer ServicesBusiness ServicesOther services n.e.s
20120.2712918580.6604255581.0728849881.4989191131.5727099320.9980839831.295
20130.3495686730.7153327940.9972156371.891298640.0191.2137452321.5766381820.974
20140.3969648330.7789703591.0798537952.4073548281.5125469410.195
20150.5140336641.013353611.4086991330.7890687243.9236340292.6825708310.788
20160.6368807121.1230485491.4008962210.9737168264.5546068170.0362.480878883.146470019
20170.7550.7565899741.2704561141.3798528671.1389829763.098850160.0242.8925177687.156499644-0.762
20180.8370.954880341.4493501330.9951217321.1861873154.7832329930.0212.9698959339.258303203-1.551

Please note: in Figure 3.9 some of the services export figures have been supressed for confidentiality reasons, see Table 1.2 for more details. 

Source publication: International Trade in Services 2018

Get the data: StatBank (BPA04)

Exports of business services to the US as a percentage of total business services exports grew by 18% from 6% in 2012 to 24% in 2018. In comparison, imports of business services from the US grew as a percentage of total business services imports by 1% from 36% in 2012 to 37% in 2018.

Source publication: International Trade in Services 2018

Get the data: StatBank (BPA04)


Next chapter >> Income Flows

2012
US6.25117444409646
Rest of World93.7488255559035
Exports of Business Services 2018
US24.3497698882314
Rest of World75.6502301117686

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