Statistics on UK trade with Ireland

This note provides some key statistics on the UK’s trade with Ireland, including details on Northern Ireland’s international trade and Northern Ireland’s trade with Great Britain.

In 2021:

• UK exports to Ireland were worth £41.6 billion; imports from Ireland were £20.4 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of £21.3 billion.
• The UK had a surplus with Ireland in both goods and services. 
• Ireland accounted for 6.5% of UK exports and 3.1% of all UK imports. 
• Ireland was the UK’s 4^th largest export market and the 10^th largest source of imports.
• Northern Ireland’s trade with the Republic of Ireland was particularly pronounced – 40% of Northern Ireland’s goods exports were to the Republic of Ireland (compared to 7% for the UK as a whole) while 36% of Northern Ireland’s goods imports were from the Republic of Ireland (compared to 3% for the UK as a whole).