Irish Goods Exports to US Plummet 82% to €4.5 Billion in March Amid Tariff Volatility
Irish goods exports to the US dropped 82% to €4.5 billion in March, driven by firms avoiding tariffs. Overall exports fell 51% to €18.3 billion, with significant declines in medical and pharmaceutical products. Experts attribute the decline to tariff volatility and last year's elevated trade levels.
Irish goods exports to the US fell by 82 per cent in March, dropping from €25.5 billion in March last year to €4.5 billion this March. This decline reflects the unwinding of last year’s export surge when firms stockpiled products in the US to avoid tariffs.
Overall goods exports decreased by 51 per cent to €18.3 billion in March, down €19.3 billion from the same month last year. Compared to March 2024, exports decreased by 4.8 per cent, from €19.2 billion to €18.3 billion in March 2026. Medical and pharmaceutical product exports fell by €16.5 billion to €7 billion, while organic chemicals decreased by €3.4 billion to €1.4 billion.
Ireland’s top exporting partners in March were the US (24.7 per cent of total exports) and the Netherlands (13.5 per cent). Exports to Britain increased by 64.1 per cent to €2 billion. Goods imports rose by €1.2 billion (9.3 per cent) to €14.3 billion. Experts like Louise Kelly of Deloitte Ireland and Robert Purdue of Ebury (Ireland) note that comparisons with 2025 are challenging due to last year's elevated figures and the broader trend of softer export activity.