Ireland imported a total US$142.5 billion worth of goods from around the world in 2024.

Ireland’s spending on imported products increased by 43.3% compared to $99.4 billion five years earlier during 2020.

Year over year, the overall cost of products imported into Ireland dropped by -5.4% from $150.6 billion in 2023.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2024, Ireland uses the euro which flatlined via a 0.02% gain against the US dollar from 2023 to 2024. The slightly stronger European Union currency made Ireland’s imports paid for in weaker US dollars modestly less expensive when converted starting from the euro.

Domestically, Ireland’s inflation rate for consumer prices averaged 1.657% in 2024 down from an average 5.209% during 2023.

Irish imports represent 0.6% of world imports which totaled an estimated $23.968 trillion in 2023, same as 0.6% in previous 12-month period.

Ranking among the most valuable imported products bought by Ireland in 2024 were aircraft and spacecraft, medication mixes in dosage, blood fractions including antisera, electronic integrated circuits and microassemblies, computers including optical readers, processed petroleum oils, heterocyclics and nucleic acids, cars, computer parts or accessories, then phone devices including smartphones. Combined, those 10 major imports represent over four-fifths (44.2%) of Ireland’s total spending on imports.

Best Suppliers for Irish Imports

The latest available country-specific data shows that 81.6% of products imported into Ireland was furnished by exporters in: United Kingdom (17.2% of the Irish total), United States of America (16.2%), Germany (10.3%), France (10.2%), mainland China (7.1%), Netherlands (7%), Belgium (3.3%), Israel (2.9%), Italy (2.4%), Spain (1.9%), Switzerland (1.8%) and Japan (1.3%).

From a continental perspective, 61.5% of Ireland’s total imports by value in 2024 was purchased from fellow European countries. Trade partners in Asia supplied 19% of Ireland’s import purchases while 18% worth originated from North America.

Ireland belongs to the European Union. EU members supplied 41.6% 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 5.42 million people, the country’s total US$142.5 billion in 2024 imports translates to roughly $26,300 in yearly product demand from every person in the European island country. That per-capita amount lags the average $28,600 for 2023.

Ireland’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Ireland’s import purchases during 2024. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Ireland.

1. Aircraft, spacecraft: US$19.6 billion (13.8% of total imports)
2. Machinery including computers: $18.3 billion (12.8%)
3. Pharmaceuticals: $16.6 billion (11.7%)
4. Electrical machinery, equipment: $13.3 billion (9.3%)
5. Mineral fuels including oil: $9.1 billion (6.4%)
6. Organic chemicals: $8.5 billion (6%)
7. Vehicles: $6.9 billion (4.9%)
8. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $5.9 billion (4.1%)
9. Plastics, plastic articles: $4.3 billion (3%)
10. Perfumes, cosmetics: $1.9 billion (1.4%)

Ireland’s top 10 import product categories represent almost three-quarters (73.3%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Expanding at the fastest pace were Irish imports of pharmaceuticals (up 23.7% from 2023), perfumes and cosmetics (up 14.2%) then machinery including computers (up 14%).

Recording double-digit declines were Ireland’s imports of organic chemicals (down -60.9% from 2023) and mineral fuels including oil (down -16.8%).

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 Aerospace Products

In 2024, Irish importers spent the most on the following subcategories of aerospace products.

1. Aircraft, spacecraft: US$18.8 billion (down -8.1% from 2023)
2. Aircraft or spacecraft parts: $789 million (up 113.2%)
3. Unmanned aircraft: $13.6 million (up 99.1%)
4. Aircraft launch gear, ground fly trainer: $6.3 million (up 178.2%)
5. Parachutes, accessories: $1.3 million (up 574.7%)
6. Balloons, dirigibles, gliders, handgliders: $73,000 (down -58.3%)

Among these import subcategories, Irish purchases of parachutes or accessories (up 574.7%), aircraft launch gear and ground fly trainers (up 178.2%) then aircraft or spacecraft parts (up 113.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

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 2024, Irish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$4.9 billion (up 46.7% from 2023)
2. Computer parts, accessories: $3.1 billion (up 110.8%)
3. Machinery for making semi-conductors: $2.2 billion (down -32.7%)
4. Turbo-jets: $1.4 billion (down -11.4%)
5. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $661.1 million (up 2.1%)
6. Miscellaneous machinery: $488.1 million (up 35.2%)
7. Temperature-change machines: $419.4 million (up 62.1%)
8. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $413.1 million (up 3.1%)
9. Machinery parts: $352.5 million (up 0.8%)
10. Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $314.5 million (down -17.7%)

Among these import subcategories, Irish purchases of computer parts or accessories (up 110.8%), temperature-change machines (up 62.1%) then computers including optical readers (up 46.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

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 2024, Irish importers spent the most on the following subcategories of pharmaceuticals.

1. Medication mixes in dosage: US$8.6 billion (up 62.8% from 2023)
2. Blood fractions (including antisera): $7.1 billion (down -2.1%)
3. Medication mixes not in dosage: $692.1 million (down -0.02%)
4. Sutures, special pharmaceutical goods: $138.6 million (down -9.6%)
5. Packaged dressings: $106.3 million (up 59.4%)
6. Dried organs, heparin: $2.2 million (down -12.6%)

Among these import subcategories, Irish purchases of medication mixes in dosage (up 62.8%) and packaged dressings: (up 59.4%) grew from 2023 to 2024.

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.

Ireland’s Imports of Electronics

In 2024, Irish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronic products including consumer electronics.

1. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: US$4.9 billion (up 5.2% from 2023)
2. Phone devices including smartphones: $2.3 billion (down -5.6%)
3. Insulated wire/cable: $750.3 million (up 13.4%)
4. Unrecorded sound media: $618.2 million (up 69.1%)
5. Electrical converters/power units: $528.9 million (up 5.4%)
6. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $468.1 million (up 9.2%)
7. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $357 million (up 5.8%)
8. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $339.8 million (down -27.7%)
9. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $313.4 million (up 2%)
10. Electric motor parts: $274 million (down -6.4%)

Among these import subcategories, Irish purchases of unrecorded sound media (up 69.1%), insulated wire or cable (up 13.4%) then lower-voltage switches or fuses (up 9.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imports for electronics-related products 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 March 27, 2025

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on March 27, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 27, 2025

X-rates.com, Exchange Rates: Euro to US Dollar (monthly average 2024). Accessed on March 27, 2025