An island located in the North Atlantic Ocean close to the United Kingdom, Ireland imported US$422.6 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020. That dollar amount reflects a -11% reduction from $475 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Ireland’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Ireland is comprised of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland; the latter belongs to the United Kingdom. Ireland is Europe’s second-most populated island after England.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Irish imports during 2020 for each of Ireland’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for well over three-quarters (78.4%) of total Irish import purchases.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Irish imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Ireland’s Main Imports from the UK

In 2020, United Kingdom’s exports to Ireland amounted to $22.5 billion or 22.9% of overall Irish imports.

That dollar amount represents a -1.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 61.9% of Ireland’s imports from Britain.

Mineral fuels including oil: $2.1 billion
Machinery: $1.8 billion
Electronic equipment: $1.5 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $1.3 billion
Plastics: $981.4 million
Vehicles: $948 million
Medical, technical equipment: $859 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $793.7 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $623.8 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $608.8 million
Iron or steel products: $602.5 million
Paper: $556.2 million
Beverages: $537.5 million
Other food preparations: $414.1 million
Live animals: $382.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Irish imports from the United Kingdom under the aircraft and spacecraft product category via a 732.2% gain in revenue, medical or technical equipment (up 56.2%), pharmaceuticals (up 43.8%), live animals (up 31.3%), products made from iron or steel (up 27.3%) and electronic equipment (up 21.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Ireland’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -36.6%), machinery (down -20.5%) then vehicles (down -17.3%).

Ireland’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Ireland amounted to $14.8 billion or 15.1% of overall Irish imports.

That dollar amount represents a -5.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 94.4% of Ireland’s imports from America.

Aircraft, spacecraft: $3.5 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $3.3 billion
Machinery: $2.7 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $1 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $874.5 million
Electronic equipment: $631.4 million
Plastics: $516.5 million
Organic chemicals: $432.3 million
Other chemical goods: $247 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $180.1 million
Photo/cinematographic goods: $158 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $133 million
Inorganic chemicals: $100.4 million
Iron or steel products: $72.9 million
Gems, precious metals: $71 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Irish imports from the United States under the machinery product category via a 53% gain in revenue, miscellaneous chemical goods (up 30.7%), organic chemicals (up 24.3%) and pharmaceuticals (up 17.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Ireland’s top 15 imported products were aircraft and spacecraft (down -35%), gems and precious metals (down -34.4%), mineral fuels including oil (down -29.9%), food waste and animal fodder (down -25.3%), perfumes and cosmetics (down -15.4%) then photo or cinematographic goods (down -11.4%).

Ireland’s Main Imports from France

In 2020, France’s exports to Ireland amounted to $10.9 billion or 11.1% of overall Irish imports.

That dollar amount represents a -20.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 94.1% of Ireland’s imports from France.

Aircraft, spacecraft: $6.6 billion
Organic chemicals: $1.3 billion
Machinery: $646.8 million
Vehicles: $481.7 million
Pharmaceuticals: $363.5 million
Beverages: $142.3 million
Plastics: $135.1 million
Medical, technical equipment: $103.3 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $95 million
Electronic equipment: $87.1 million
Live animals: $76.7 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $60.5 million
Sugar: $54.3 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $52.2 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $48 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Irish imports from France under the live animals product category via a 308.2% gain in revenue, machinery (up 163.3%), organic chemicals (up 90%), food waste and animal fodder (up 39%), sugar (up 17%) and beverages (up 16.6%).

Posting the severest declines among Ireland’s top 15 imported products were aircraft and spacecraft (down -36.5%), medical or technical equipment (down -24.4%), perfumes and cosmetics (down -20.8%), vehicles (down -15.3%) then plastics as materials (down -12.1%).

Ireland’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to Ireland amounted to $7.8 billion or 7.9% of overall Irish imports.

That dollar amount represents a -7.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 81% of Ireland’s imports from Germany.

Pharmaceuticals: $1.22 billion
Machinery: $1.16 billion
Vehicles: $991.9 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $981 million
Electronic equipment: $398.3 million
Medical, technical equipment: $376.2 million
Plastics: $301.2 million
Organic chemicals: $177.5 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $140.8 million
Fruits, nuts: $106.6 million
Gems, precious metals: $95.4 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $93.5 million
Iron or steel products: $91.6 million
Other chemical goods: $75.3 million
Aluminum: $72.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Irish imports from Germany under the cereal or milk preparations product category via a 27.9% gain in revenue, pharmaceuticals (up 24.4%) then fruits and nuts (up 18%).

Posting the severest declines among Ireland’s top 15 imported products were aircraft and spacecraft (down -29.4%), machinery (down -18.9%), gems and precious metals (down -18.2%), electronic equipment (down -14.3%) and aluminum (down -11.4%).

Ireland’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Ireland amounted to $7 billion or 7.1% of overall Irish imports.

That dollar amount represents a 22.7% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 88.3% of Ireland’s imports from the mainland China.

Machinery: $1.7 billion
Electronic equipment: $1.5 billion
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $522.7 million
Organic chemicals: $426.2 million
Toys, games: $284.8 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $274.5 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $239.7 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $232.7 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $218.5 million
Medical, technical equipment: $216.2 million
Plastics: $184.7 million
Iron or steel products: $113.5 million
Footwear: $111.7 million
Rubber: $80.5 million
Vehicles: $67.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Irish imports from China under the aircraft and spacecraft product category via a 1,317% gain in revenue, miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing (up 367.4%) then unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (up 143%).

Posting the severest declines among Ireland’s top 15 imported products were footwear (down -26%), knitted and crocheted clothing (down -10.7%) then products made from iron or steel (down -10.5%).

Ireland’s Main Imports from Switzerland

In 2020, Switzerland’s exports to Ireland amounted to $4.7 billion or 4.8% of overall Irish imports.

That dollar amount represents a 96.2% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99.4% of Ireland’s imports from Switzerland.

Organic chemicals: $3.9 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $200.4 million
Pharmaceuticals: $166.5 million
Clocks, watches: $156.5 million
Machinery: $84.3 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $42 million
Electronic equipment: $26.8 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $24.4 million
Beverages: $21.8 million
Coffee, tea, spices: $21.7 million
Plastics: $20.8 million
Gems, precious metals: $7.1 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $5.1 million
Iron or steel products: $4.5 million
Base metal tools, cutlery: $3.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Irish imports from Switzerland under the aircraft and spacecraft product category via a 3,982% gain in revenue, food waste and animal fodder (up 649.9%), clocks and watches (up 466.2%), gems and precious metals (up 408.2%), organic chemicals (up 112.6%) then medical or technical equipment (up 35.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Ireland’s top 15 imported products were coffee, tea and spices (down -15.8%) then perfumes and cosmetics (down -14.8%).

Ireland’s Main Imports from Netherlands

In 2020, the Netherlands’ exports to Ireland amounted to $3.5 billion or 3.5% of overall Irish imports.

That dollar amount represents a -1% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 73.7% of Ireland’s imports from the Netherlands.

Pharmaceuticals: $468.3 million
Machinery: $369.4 million
Electronic equipment: $296.9 million
Plastics: $174.4 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $166.4 million
Other chemical goods: $147.3 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $140.5 million
Medical, technical equipment: $137.8 million
Meat: $123.4 million
Organic chemicals: $93.6 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $92.1 million
Vegetables: $91.5 million
Beverages: $85 million
Live trees and plants: $83.3 million
Sugar: $79.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Irish imports from the Netherlands under the dairy, eggs and honey product category via a 145.6% gain in revenue, electronic equipment (up 80.5%), organic chemicals (up 62.3%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 24.2%), pharmaceuticals (up 16.7%) and beverages (up 14.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Ireland’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -57.7%), meat (down -23.4%), machinery (down -20.2%) then medical or technical equipment (down -15.5%).

Ireland’s Main Imports from Belgium

In 2020, Belgium’s exports to Ireland amounted to $2.1 billion or 2.2% of overall Irish imports.

That dollar amount represents a 14.5% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 79.8% of Ireland’s imports from Belgium.

Pharmaceuticals: $671.2 million
Organic chemicals: $344.7 million
Plastics: $132.4 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $91 million
Machinery: $78.3 million
Vehicles: $65.9 million
Fertilizers: $61.9 million
Vegetable/fruit preparations: $52.1 million
Medical, technical equipment: $40.5 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $31 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $26.6 million
Paper: $26.3 million
Vegetables: $24.7 million
Electronic equipment: $23.7 million
Other chemical goods: $23 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Irish imports from Belgium under the organic chemicals product category via a 101.8% gain in revenue, pharmaceuticals (up 45.1%), food waste and animal fodder (up 40.9%) then vegetables (up 10.1%).

Posting the severest declines among Ireland’s top 15 imported products were miscellaneous chemical goods (down -49.2%), cereal or milk preparations (down -17.9%), machinery (down -11.5%) and medical or technical equipment (down -11%).

Ireland’s Main Imports from Italy

In 2020, Italy’s exports to Ireland amounted to $2 billion or 2% of overall Irish imports.

That dollar amount represents a 21.4% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 78.7% of Ireland’s imports from Italy.

Gems, precious metals: $357.2 million
Machinery: $256.4 million
Organic chemicals: $233.9 million
Pharmaceuticals: $183.4 million
Electronic equipment: $90.6 million
Plastics: $89.8 million
Beverages: $61.8 million
Medical, technical equipment: $43 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $42.7 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $42.4 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $38.9 million
Iron or steel products: $32 million
Vehicles: $30.8 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $24.7 million
Footwear: $23.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Irish imports from Italy under the gems and precious metals product category via a 226.6% gain in revenue, organic chemicals (up 57.6%), pharmaceuticals (up 56.6%), medical or technical equipment (up 32.6%), cereal or milk preparations (up 22.5%) and beverages (up 14.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Ireland’s top 15 imported products were items made from iron or steel (down -15.4%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -15.2%) then furniture, lighting and signs (down -14%).

Ireland’s Main Imports from Spain

In 2020, Spain’s exports to Ireland amounted to $1.8 billion or 1.9% of overall Irish imports.

That dollar amount represents a 17.1% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 75.8% of Ireland’s imports from Spain.

Pharmaceuticals: $418.4 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $280.8 million
Vehicles: $161.9 million
Vegetables: $69.4 million
Organic chemicals: $56 million
Plastics: $53.5 million
Machinery: $52.6 million
Fruits, nuts: $50.1 million
Electronic equipment: $46.9 million
Beverages: $46.8 million
Iron or steel products: $40.4 million
Wood: $34.6 million
Iron and steel: $31.6 million
Fertilizers: $29.5 million
Meat: $29.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Irish imports from Spain under the aircraft and spacecraft product category via a 511.2% gain in revenue, pharmaceuticals (up 42.3%), electronic equipment (up 38.9%) and beverages (up 9.1%).

Posting the severest declines among Ireland’s top 15 imported products were organic chemicals (down -47.6%), iron and steel as materials (down -47.1%), fertilizers (down -23.8%) and wood (down -17.7%).

References

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

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, Ireland, Borders of the Republic of Ireland

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Ireland’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries