Ireland’s exports reached a record €260.3 billion in 2025, rising 16.4 percent on the previous year, according to preliminary figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The surge was largely driven by frontloaded shipments in the first half of the year ahead of threatened US tariffs.
Imports also increased last year, climbing 7 percent to €144 billion compared with 2024, the CSO said. The trade balance remained strong, with the seasonally adjusted surplus for December rising 19.7 percent to €4.9 billion from €4.1 billion in November. The unadjusted value of exports in December grew 1.7 percent year-on-year to €16 billion.
Despite the annual gains, December 2025 saw a sharp drop in exports to the United States, Ireland’s largest trading partner. Shipments to the US fell 41.1 percent to €3.3 billion, down from €5.7 billion in December 2024. Over the course of the year, the US accounted for 42.9 percent of total exports (€111.7 billion), followed by the Netherlands with 9.9 percent (€25.7 billion) and Belgium with 6.1 percent (€15.8 billion).
Pharmaceutical and medical products dominated export growth, increasing 39 percent to €138.6 billion, representing more than half (53.2 percent) of total exports. Chemicals and related products also accounted for significant volumes, with almost €60 billion exported to the European Union and nearly €95 billion sent to the US in 2025.
Carol Lynch, Head of Customs and International Trade Services at BDO, said the figures are impressive but reflect unusual patterns linked to US trade policy. “Exports were at their height in the first quarter of 2025 ahead of potential tariffs, particularly in pharmaceuticals and chemicals. The drop in December, over 40 percent compared to last year, reflects the post-frontloading adjustment,” she said.
Lynch highlighted the scale of Ireland’s exposure to US trade policy, noting that nearly 43 percent of all Irish exports in 2025 were destined for the United States. She added that the reliance on the US market underscores how shifts in global trade rules or tariffs could have a significant impact on Ireland’s economic performance.
The CSO data show that while Ireland’s export performance was historically strong in 2025, much of the growth was influenced by temporary factors tied to US trade uncertainty. Analysts suggest that sustaining growth in sectors like pharmaceuticals and chemicals will be critical to maintaining Ireland’s trade balance in the coming years.
The record export figures underline the importance of the United States as a trading partner, while also highlighting Ireland’s ongoing dependence on global markets for economic growth.
