Food exports (% of merchandise exports) in Ireland
Ireland: Food exports (% of merchandise exports) was 7.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Food exports in Ireland, 1963–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2025, food exports in Ireland stood at 7.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.4% on the previous year and down 25.8% 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 145th 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 (% of merchandise 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% |
| 2025 | 7.4% | -6.4% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 7.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 11.3%, 66% of the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 7.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.8%, 58% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
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 | 8.1% | 7.4% | 8.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 142 Trinidad and Tobago 7.9% compare
- 143 Mexico 7.5% compare
- 144 Bosnia and Herzegovina 7.4% compare
- 146 French Polynesia 7.4% compare
- 147 Sweden 7.2% compare
- 148 Burkina Faso 7.1% compare
More private sector data for Ireland
- Merchandise trade 62.7% (2025)
- Food imports 9.3% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 83.9% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 159.22 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 526.22 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures exports 91.4% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 293.42 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 547.62 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food exports in Ireland?
- Food exports in Ireland was 7.4% in 2025, 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 145th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is food exports rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.8%. 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.