Food exports in Ireland
Ireland: Food exports was 7.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Food exports in Ireland, 1963–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2024, food exports in Ireland stood at 7.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.4% on the previous year and down 30.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food exports in Ireland peaked at 63.1% in 1963 and was at its lowest, 7.2%, in 2002.
Ireland ranks 143rd of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Food exports in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 63.1% | — |
| 1964 | 62.3% | -1.2% |
| 1965 | 59.1% | -5.1% |
| 1966 | 57.4% | -3.0% |
| 1967 | 58.0% | +1.1% |
| 1968 | 53.5% | -7.7% |
| 1969 | 50.6% | -5.4% |
| 1970 | 49.4% | -2.5% |
| 1971 | 47.4% | -4.0% |
| 1972 | 45.3% | -4.4% |
| 1973 | 43.6% | -3.7% |
| 1974 | 40.4% | -7.5% |
| 1975 | 47.2% | +16.9% |
| 1976 | 42.0% | -10.9% |
| 1977 | 40.1% | -4.6% |
| 1978 | 40.7% | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 37.3% | -8.2% |
| 1980 | 36.6% | -2.0% |
| 1981 | 33.3% | -9.1% |
| 1982 | 30.1% | -9.5% |
| 1983 | 27.9% | -7.3% |
| 1984 | 25.7% | -7.9% |
| 1985 | 25.3% | -1.8% |
| 1986 | 25.9% | +2.6% |
| 1987 | 27.3% | +5.2% |
| 1988 | 26.7% | -2.3% |
| 1989 | 24.1% | -9.5% |
| 1990 | 22.3% | -7.4% |
| 1991 | 22.7% | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 24.4% | +7.7% |
| 1993 | 21.9% | -10.3% |
| 1994 | 20.6% | -6.1% |
| 1995 | 19.4% | -5.7% |
| 1996 | 16.5% | -15.2% |
| 1997 | 11.9% | -27.8% |
| 1998 | 10.1% | -14.5% |
| 1999 | 9.4% | -7.0% |
| 2000 | 8.3% | -12.1% |
| 2001 | 7.3% | -12.6% |
| 2002 | 7.2% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 8.3% | +15.6% |
| 2004 | 8.4% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 8.4% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 9.7% | +15.0% |
| 2007 | 10.0% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 9.5% | -5.4% |
| 2009 | 8.4% | -10.9% |
| 2010 | 9.1% | +7.5% |
| 2011 | 9.8% | +8.0% |
| 2012 | 10.1% | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 11.2% | +11.1% |
| 2014 | 11.4% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 10.0% | -12.4% |
| 2016 | 9.7% | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 10.5% | +8.3% |
| 2018 | 9.0% | -13.7% |
| 2019 | 8.9% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 8.2% | -8.4% |
| 2021 | 8.5% | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 8.2% | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 8.5% | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 7.9% | -6.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 57.7% | 50.6% | 63.1% | 7 |
| 1970s | 43.3% | 37.3% | 49.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 28.3% | 24.1% | 36.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.9% | 9.4% | 24.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.6% | 7.2% | 10.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.0% | 8.9% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.2% | 7.9% | 8.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 140 Hungary 8.6% compare
- 141 Austria 8.6% compare
- 142 Trinidad and Tobago 8.2% compare
- 144 Mexico 7.5% compare
- 145 Bosnia and Herzegovina 7.4% compare
- 146 Burkina Faso 7.1% compare
More private sector data for Ireland
- Merchandise trade 62.7% (2025)
- Food imports 9.4% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 82.7% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 159.22 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures exports 90.7% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 293.42 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 53,501 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.4066 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 21.65 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 29,031 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food exports in Ireland?
- Food exports in Ireland was 7.9% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food exports recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 63.1% in 1963.
- What is the lowest food exports recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.2% in 2002.
- How does Ireland rank for food exports?
- Ireland ranks 143rd out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is food exports rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Food exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Food comprises the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 0 (food and live animals), 1 (beverages and tobacco), and 4 (animal and vegetable oils and fats) and division 22 (oil seeds, oil nuts, and oil kernels). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.