Ireland imported US$150.2 billion worth of goods from around the world in 2023.

Ireland’s spending on imported products increased by 47.4% compared to $101.9 billion five years earlier during 2019.

Year over year, the overall cost of products imported into Ireland slowed to a 1.1% gain from $148.6 billion in 2022.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2023, Ireland uses the euro which depreciated by -3.5% against the US dollar since 2019 but advanced 2.6% from 2022 to 2023. The weaker European Union currency versus 2019 made Ireland’s imports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively more expensive when converted starting from the weaker euro.

Domestically, Ireland’s inflation rate for consumer prices averaged 5.158% in 2023 down from an average 8.065% during 2022.

Irish imports represent 0.6% of world imports which totaled an estimated $25.392 trillion in 2022, down from 0.7% in previous 12-month period.

Ranking among the most valuable imported products bought by Ireland in 2023 were aircraft and spacecraft, heterocyclics and nucleic acids, blood fractions including antisera, medication mixes in dosage, electronic integrated circuits and microassemblies, processed petroleum oils, cars, petroleum gases, computers, then machinery for making semi-conductors. Combined, those 10 major imports represents almost one-half (49.4%) of Ireland’s total spending on imports.

Best Suppliers for Irish Imports

The latest available country-specific data shows that 84% of products imported into Ireland was furnished by exporters in: United Kingdom (19.4% of the Irish total), United States of America (15.7%), France (12.4%), Germany (6.8%), mainland China (6.2%), Netherlands (5.8%), Switzerland (5.6%), Belgium (3.2%), Spain (2.7%), Israel (2.6%), Italy (2.1%) and Japan (1.5%).

From a continental perspective, 64.6% of Ireland’s total imports by value in 2023 was purchased from fellow European countries. Trade partners in Asia supplied 17% of Ireland’s import purchases while 16.9% worth originated from North America.

Ireland belongs to the European Union. EU members supplied 38.9% of goods bought by Ireland, a relatively low percentage due to the considerable amount furnished by the United Kingdom–now a non-EU member.

Much smaller percentages of Irish imports came from buyers in Latin America (0.7%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (0.6%), then Oceania (0.1%) led by New Zealand and Australia.

Given Ireland’s population of 5.25 million people, the country’s total $150.2 billion in 2023 imports translates to roughly $28,600 in yearly product demand from every person in the European island country. That per-capita amount slightly lags the average $28,700 for 2022.

Ireland’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Ireland’s import purchases during 2023. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Ireland.

1. Organic chemicals: US$21.6 billion (14.4% of total imports)
2. Aircraft, spacecraft: $20.7 billion (13.8%)
3. Machinery including computers: $15.8 billion (10.5%)
4. Pharmaceuticals: $13.5 billion (9%)
5. Electrical machinery, equipment: $12.6 billion (8.4%)
6. Mineral fuels including oil: $11 billion (7.3%)
7. Vehicles: $6.9 billion (4.6%)
8. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $5.4 billion (3.6%)
9. Plastics, plastic articles: $4.2 billion (2.8%)
10. Perfumes, cosmetics: $1.8 billion (1.2%)

Ireland’s top 10 imports represent three-quarters (75.6%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Expanding at the fastest pace were Irish imports of vehicles (up 28% from 2022), perfumes and cosmetics (up 18.3%), aircraft and spacecraft (up 16.9%), then pharmaceuticals (up 15.9%).

Recording double-digit declines were Ireland’s imports of mineral fuels including oil (down -20.1% from 2022) and electrical machinery and equipment (down -14.9%).

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented under the sections below is at the more granular 4-digit level.

Ireland’s Imports of Organic Chemicals

In 2023, Irish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of organic chemicals.

1. Heterocyclics, nucleic acids: US$17.6 billion (up 21.7% from 2022)
2. Miscellaneous heterocyclics: $1.4 billion (down -6.2%)
3. Carboxyamid/amide-function compounds: $718.5 million (up 18.6%)
4. Amino-compounds (oxygen): $373.8 million (up 50.7%)
5. Heterocyclics, oxygen: $232 million (up 14.4%)
6. Sulphonamides: $183.4 million (up 7.6%)
7. Carboxylic acids: $161 million (up 19.1%)
8. Antibiotics: $104.5 million (down -11.8%)
9. Alkaloids, related salts, esthers: $89.6 million (up 4.9%)
10. Acyclic alcohols: $82.6 million (down -40.4%)

Among these import subcategories, Irish purchases of oxygen amino-compounds (up 50.7%), heterocyclics and nucleic acids (up 21.7%), then carboxylic acids (up 19.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imports for organic chemicals-related products among Irish businesses and consumers.

Ireland’s Imports of Aerospace Products

In 2023, Irish importers spent the most on the following subcategories of aerospace products.

1. Aircraft, spacecraft: US$20.3 billion (up 17.4% from 2022)
2. Aircraft or spacecraft parts: $351.9 million (down -3.2%)
3. Unmanned aircraft: $6.9 million (up 90.2%)
4. Aircraft launch gear, ground fly trainer: $2.2 million (down -87.3%)
5. Parachutes, accessories: $186,000 (down -81.7%)
6. Balloons, dirigibles, gliders, handgliders: $170,000 (down -3.4%)

Among these import subcategories, Irish purchases of unmanned aircraft accelerated at the greatest pace, gaining 90.2% from 2022.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported aerospace products among Irish businesses and consumers.

Ireland’s Imports of Machinery Products

In 2023, Irish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$3.3 billion (down -18.4% from 2022)
2. Machinery for making semi-conductors: $3.2 billion (down -9.5%)
3. Computer parts, accessories: $1.5 billion (down -31%)
4. Turbo-jets: $1.4 billion (down -2.8%)
5. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $646.2 million (down -18.2%)
6. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $397.6 million (up 4.9%)
7. Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators): $386.2 million (up 13.3%)
8. Machinery parts: $353.5 million (up 9.3%)
9. Miscellaneous machinery: $351.9 million (up 16.3%)
10. Air or vacuum pumps: $309.5 million (up 4.3%)

Among these import subcategories, Irish purchases of miscellaneous machinery (up 16.3%), heavy machinery such as bulldozers, excavators or road rollers (up 13.3%), then machinery parts (up 9.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among Irish businesses and consumers.

Ireland’s Imports of Pharmaceuticals

In 2023, Irish importers spent the most on the following subcategories of pharmaceuticals.

1. Blood fractions (including antisera): US$7.3 billion (up 20.1% from 2022)
2. Medication mixes in dosage: $5.3 billion (up 49.9%)
3. Medication mixes not in dosage: $698.5 million (down -5.8%)
4. Sutures, special pharmaceutical goods: $153.1 million (down -87.6%)
5. Packaged dressings: $67 million (up 5.3%)
6. Dried organs, heparin: $2.4 million (up 2.6%)

Among these import subcategories, Irish purchases of medication mixes in dosage (up 49.9%), blood fractions including antisera (up 20.1%), then packaged dressings (up 5.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported pharmaceuticals among Irish businesses and consumers.
 

See also Ireland’s Top Trading Partners, Ireland’s Top 10 Exports and Ireland’s Top 10 Major Export Companies

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on April 8, 2024

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on April 8, 2024

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on April 8, 2024