An island strategically situated in the North Atlantic Ocean about 304 miles (490 kilometers) from one of its key trade partners Britain,

The Republic of Ireland is an attractive market for selling goods partly because Ireland is the world’s third-richest country in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. Ireland is also a member state of the European Union, one of international trade’s most powerful economic forces.

Nicknamed The Emerald Island, Ireland is home to 5 million people compared to over 67 million residents in the United Kingdom.

The 100 most valuable consumer products imported into Ireland in 2020 generated a subtotal US$36.7 billion worth of international spending. That consumer-specific dollar amount represents 37.3% of the overall value of all goods imported into Ireland. A European Union member state, Ireland’s overall spending on imported products totaled $98.4 billion.

Among Ireland’s most valuable consumer products imported in 2020 were: medications; computers; cars; phones including smartphones; computers; trucks; and medications.

The total dollar amount for Ireland’s top 100 imported consumer products increased by 3% from 2019 to 2020. The North Atlantic island’s top 100 consumer metric contrasts with the -3% decline for all of Ireland’s imported goods for the year.

Irish demand for imported consumer products far exceeded the global average, which was a drop of -8.2% from 2019 to 2020 for all importing countries around the world.

Among the top 100 consumer products imported by Ireland, 59 increased in total value from 2019 to 2020 whereas 41 declined.

Changes in Irish consumer demand for essential imports offer future opportunities for international suppliers who correctly anticipate which upward or downward trends will continue.

Consumer Products Defined

Economics educator BoyceWire defines a consumer product as a final good or end product that a business creates for consumers to buy. For example, consumers often purchase refined petroleum oil at the gas station while imported crude oil is an intermediate good subject to further processing before being sold to end users.

Although there may be a few wealthy individual buyers, products like turbojets are excluded from the consumer products targeted by this study. That is because turbojets are usually purchased by corporations. In contrast, it is common for a consumer to buy a motorcycle.

Types of Consumer Products

This article focuses on 3 distinct consumer product types.

Convenience Products are easy to access, non-durable, have relatively lower prices and therefore consumers frequently purchase them. Examples of convenience products are food, alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks, and soap.

Shopping Products are not as easily available, involve more time to make a buying decision, are durable and are not bought as often as most convenience products. A great example of a shopping product is a mobile phone where buying the wrong model is a much more expensive mistake than buying a disappointing loaf of bread.

Speciality Products describe another consumer product type. This grey area includes infrequently purchased, expensive, durable and sometimes rare items. Consumers may consider the product’s brand image when making their purchase decisions. Some examples of speciality products are gold, silver, diamonds, jewelry, and branded refrigerators and dishwashers.

Ireland’s Most Valuable Imported Convenience Products

The list below showcases the most valuable imported convenience products on which buyers in Ireland spent the most. Items were selected at the four-digit Harmonized System tariff classification code level and are presented in descending order.

You can also peruse the greatest increases or decreases in product values from 2019 to 2020 by focusing on the percentages displayed to the right of each product name.

Medications: US$3,970,005,000 (up 27.4%)
Processed petroleum oils: $1,725,689,000 (down -49.8%)
Medication mixes not in dosage: $1,174,666,000 (down -0.5%)
Bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries: $583,114,000 (same)
Plastic packing goods, lids, caps: $478,450,000 (up 100%)
Miscellaneous plastic items: $473,037,000 (up 6.6%)
Chocolate, other cocoa preparations: $409,131,000 (down -1.3%)
Wine: $392,831,000 (up 21.2%)
Cheese, curd: $313,523,000 (up 6.3%)
Other meats (preserved/prepared): $302,838,000 (down -25.2%)
Malt beer: $285,889,000 (up 29.3%)
Waters with added sugar: $284,091,000 (down -2.9%)
Corn: $267,244,000 (down -13.9%)
Other organic cleaning preparations: $265,110,000 (up 9.9%)
Unsweetened milk/cream: $253,103,000 (down -8.6%)
Other food preparations: $247,671,000 (up 0.7%)
Poultry meat: $231,445,000 (down -22.4%)
Malt extract, food preparations: $217,619,000 (up 7.6%)
Tissues, napkins, toilet paper: $214,952,000 (up 6.2%)
Swine meat: $186,229,000 (up 28.7%)
Fruit and vegetable juices: $180,916,000 (up 4.1%)
Sauces, condiments, seasoning: $178,664,000 (up 2.7%)
Prepared cereal foods: $154,147,000 (up 6.4%)
Alcohol (spirits, liqueurs): $137,099,000 (down -2.2%)
Margarine: $131,272,000 (down -5.6%)
Palm oil: $127,966,000 (up 2900%)
Prepared vegetables (frozen): $121,824,000 (down -400%)
Other fresh/chilled vegetables: $111,124,000 (up 9.2%)
Sugar confectionery (no cocoa): $110,537,000 (down -700%)
Coffee: $109,902,000 (down -6.3%)
Prepared vegetables (non-frozen): $109,465,000 (up 20.2%)
Miscellaneous fruits (fresh): $107,069,000 (up 19.7%)
Pasta, couscous: $105,063,000 (up 15.6%)
Concentrated/sweetened milk: $103,387,000 (up 3.9%)
Fish, caviar (preserved/prepared): $103,218,000 (up 11.2%)
Fresh or chilled beef: $99,707,000 (up 1.6%)
Coffee/tea extracts, concentrates: $95,562,000 (up 6.8%)
Plastic wares (table, kitchen): $93,920,000 (up 10.3%)
Antibiotics: $92,158,000 (down -29.2%)
Buttermilk, yogurt: $91,957,000 (up 4.2%)
Ice cream: $89,624,000 (up 16.2%)

Convenience products led by the products listed above represent the European country’s second-most popular import product type attracting Ireland’s international spending behind shopping products but ahead of speciality goods.

Non-durable consumer products are goods that are not re-used once consumed. Alcoholic beverages and bananas are examples of non-durable goods. Convenience products are uniquely non-durable consumer products.

Ireland’s Most Valuable Imported Shopping Products

Below, the list highlights the most valuable imported shopping products on which buyers in Ireland spent the greatest amounts. Items were selected at the four-digit Harmonized System tariff classification code level and are presented from highest to lowest total amounts.

The percentages displayed to the right of each product name reveal the highest increases or decreases in Irish spending on that specific type of shopping product from 2019 to 2020.

Computers, optical readers: US$3,819,092,000 (down -500%)
Cars: $2,177,576,000 (down -14.7%)
Computer parts, accessories: $1,881,940,000 (up 17.6%)
Phones: $1,783,491,000 (down -0.1%)
Orthopedic appliances: $884,948,000 (down -3.2%)
Trucks: $599,919,000 (down -7.3%)
Unrecorded sound media: $596,214,000 (up 31.7%)
Insulated wire/cable: $493,116,000 (up 27.3%)
Felt, other non-woven garments: $401,749,000 (up 85,300%)
Automobile parts/accessories: $369,657,000 (down -2.3%)
Miscellaneous textile items: $364,487,000 (up 703.3%)
Miscellaneous furniture: $348,666,000 (down -5.9%)
Paper containers: $339,529,000 (up 4.7%)
Miscellaneous toys: $286,572,000 (up 12.9%)
Jerseys, pullovers (knit or crochet): $281,149,000 (up 1.7%)
Electrical converters/power units: $270,971,000 (up 16.8%)
Women’s clothing (not knit/crochet): $261,180,000 (down -2,500%)
Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $252,627,000 (down -0.8%)
Rubber tires (new): $224,747,000 (down -1.9%)
Tractors: $215,379,000 (up 1.8%)
Seats (not barber/dentist chairs): $205,041,000 (down -4.2%)
T-shirts, vests (knit or crochet): $201,523,000 (down -6.6%)
Printing machinery: $191,342,000 (down -6.3%)
Footwear (textile): $190,340,000 (down -1.5%)
Footwear (leather): $168,863,000 (down -6.9%)
Women’s clothing (knit or crochet): $165,729,000 (up 3.6%)
Video console games: $153,224,000 (up 3800%)
Miscellaneous iron or steel items: $150,424,000 (down -13.8%)
Cases, handbags, wallets: $146,586,000 (down -18.3%)
Printed books, brochures: $143,679,000 (up 21.3%)
Trailers: $141,271,000 (down -12.5%)
Men’s suits (unknit/non-crochet): $133,566,000 (down -1,900%)
Wrist/pocket watches (regular case): $132,183,000 (up 181.1%)
Packaged insecticides, herbicides: $128,703,000 (up 1,300%)
Linens: $128,053,000 (down -1.9%)
Glass bottles, other containers: $119,004,000 (up 1,200%)
Hair preparations: $117,053,000 (up 15.5%)
Vulcanized rubber items: $113,144,000 (up 20.4%)
Footwear (rubber or plastic): $112,827,000 (up 1.7%)
Sports equipment: $109,786,000 (up 13.5%)
Soap, organic surface-active goods: $101,593,000 (up 16.5%)
Other pharmaceutical preparations: $101,498,000 (up 43.2%)
Screws, bolts, washers, pins: $99,857,000 (down -500%)
Microphones/headphones/amps: $97,451,000 (up 27.4%)
Iron/steel tables, household items: $89,875,000 (up 16.2%)
Hot-rolled iron/steel items: $85,727,000 (down -1000%)

Focusing on the scope of this analysis, shopping products is Ireland’s most popular category ahead of both convenience products and speciality items.

Shopping products approach half (46) of the overall top 100 Irish imported consumer goods.

Durable consumer products are goods like cars, refrigerators and furniture that last a relatively long time. Consumers can put durable products to use again and again. Note that shopping products and speciality products are considered as durable consumer products.

Ireland’s Most Valuable Imported Speciality Products

Speciality products represent the category with the fewest entries among Ireland’s imports that attracted the country’s spending on imported consumer goods during 2020.

Selected at the four-digit Harmonized System tariff classification code level, the most valuable speciality items are listed in descending order below.

The percentage to the right of each product name reveal highest increases or decreases in 2020 compared to 2019.

Jewelry: US$509,970,000 (up 191.8%)
Beauty/makeup/skin care: $292,126,000 (down -17.9%)
Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $234,642,000 (up 6.2%)
Nitrogenous fertilizers: $209,172,000 (down -3.6%)
Liquid pumps: $206,341,000 (up 23.6%)
Fertilizer mixes: $187,409,000 (up 1.9%)
Refrigerators, freezers: $171,164,000 (down -0.3%)
Temperature-change machines: $159,017,000 (down -6.9%)
Air conditioners: $132,498,000 (up 7,600%)
Electric storage batteries: $132,327,000 (up 68.3%)
Electric generating sets, converters: $126,094,000 (up 246.9%)
Dishwash, clean/dry/fill machines: $121,448,000 (up 10.5%)
Special hand/machine tools: $86,400,000 (down -17.2%)

Like shopping products, speciality products are considered as durable consumer products.

Based on the product types identified in the sections above, 59 of Ireland’s 100 highest-value consumer shopper plus speciality products are durable while the remaining 41 convenience products are classified as non-durable.

Ireland’s Overall Fastest-Growing Consumer Imports

Listed below are the top 10 consumer products imported into Ireland that experienced the highest percentage increases in spending from 2019 to 2020.

Felt, other non-woven garments: Up 853% ($401.7 million)
Miscellaneous textile items: Up 703.3% ($364.5 million)
Electric generating sets, converters: Up 246.9% ($126.1 million)
Jewelry: Up 191.8% ($510 million)
Wrist/pocket watches (with regular cases): Up 181.1% ($132.2 million)
Air conditioners: Up 76% ($132.5 million)
Electric storage batteries: Up 68.3% ($132.3 million)
Miscellaneous pharmaceutical preparations: Up 43.2% ($101.5 million)
Video console games, table games: Up 38% ($153.2 million)
Unrecorded sound media: Up 31.7% ($596.2 million)

All the above top 10 gainers qualify as durable goods that consumers can re-use over time. Six of those durable items with accelerating sales to importers in Ireland are shopping products including felt and other non-woven garments, miscellaneous textile items and video console games.

The 4 fast-growing speciality items are electric generating sets or converters, jewelry, brand-name air conditioners and electric storage batteries.

Ireland’s Overall Worst-Declining Consumer Imports

Spending by import buyers in Ireland on the following 10 items decreased in value at the severest rates from 2019 to 2020.

Processed petroleum oils: Down -49.8% ($1.7 billion)
Antibiotics: Down -29.2% ($92.2 million)
Preserved or prepared miscellaneous meat: Down -25.2% ($302.8 million)
Unknitted and non-crocheted women’s clothing: Down -25% ($261.2 million)
Poultry meat: Down -22.4% ($231.4 million)
Unknitted and non-crocheted men’s suits: Down -19% ($133.6 million)
Cases, handbags, wallets: Down -18.3% ($146.6 million)
Beauty, makeup and skin care products: Down -17.9% ($292.1 million)
Special hand/machine (combo) tools: Down -17.2% ($86.4 million)
Cars: Down -14.7% ($2.2 billion)

Four categories among Irish top 10 severest decliners are non-durable convenience products consumed one time. Those imports are processed petroleum oils, antibiotics, preserved or prepared miscellaneous meat as well as poultry meat.

Four among the remaining major import decliners are shopping products that normally require more time for consumers to make buying decisions. Purchases under the shopping products category are more likely to be deferred than convenience products. Examples of these shopping goods range from unknitted and non-crocheted clothing and cars to cases, handbags and wallets.

The 2 declining speciality product categories are beauty, makeup and skin care, and special hand/machine (combo) tools.

Key Suppliers by Country

This analysis reveals competitive suppliers that target demand for 5 of Ireland’s top consumer import products.

Ireland’s biggest imported consumer product by value is medications. The other 4 leading consumer goods imported into Ireland are computers, cars, computer parts or accessories, and phones including smartphones.

Below, you will find major supplying countries for imported Irish:

Medications: United Kingdom (22.7% of total), United States (21.5%), Germany (17.8%), Belgium (6.1%), Netherlands (5.1%), France (3.9%), Switzerland (3%), Denmark (2.9%), Italy (2.7%), and Canada (2.6%).

Computers: China (17.8% of total), Germany (15.8%), United Kingdom (15.1%), Czech Republic (10%), United States (7.2%), Poland (6.2%), Netherlands (4.6%), Thailand (4.4%), Hungary (4.2%), and Mexico (2.8%).

Cars: Germany (31.4% of total), United Kingdom (17.7%), France (11.5%), South Korea (11.4%), Czech Republic (7.1%), Japan (6%), Spain (5%), Turkey (4%), United States (1.8%), and Romania (1.3%).

Computer parts or accessories: China (40.9% of total), United States (19.8%), South Korea (13.3%), United Kingdom (3.6%), Taiwan (3.5%), Thailand (3%), Netherlands (2%), Philippines (1.9%), Germany (1.1%), and Vietnam (0.9%).

Phones including smartphones: China (40.1% of total), United Kingdom (15.8%), United States (12.5%), Taiwan (5.3%), Netherlands (5.1%), Hong Kong (2.5%), Sweden (2.4%), Malaysia (2.2%), Thailand (also 2.2%), and Vietnam (2.1%).

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational portals.

BoyceWire, Consumer Goods Definition.

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook: Ireland Economy.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Investopedia, Consumer Goods, Consumer Staples Definition, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG).

Richest Country Reports, Top 100 Richest Countries by GDP.

Trading Economics, Ireland Consumer Spending.

Wikipedia, List of largest consumer markets.

Wikipedia, Ireland.

World’s Top Exports, Ireland’s Top 10 Imports.