Companies supported by Enterprise Ireland exported goods and services worth €34.6 billion last year, the highest level on record.
“Today’s results reflect the ambition and tenaciousness of Irish entrepreneurs, who with the support of Enterprise Ireland’s team are scaling internationally at an accelerated pace, with strong gains in key sectors, markets and sales growth by clients,” agency chief executive Leo Clancy said. “Irish exporters have remained committed to investing in the UK, our largest trading partner, and the 6 per cent growth in exports justifies that commitment,” said Mr Clancy. ‘While the euro zone grew by a more modest 2 per cent this can be largely attributed to food exports to the region being down by 6 per cent,” he said.
While food and sustainability exports overall declined 4 per cent compared to a year earlier due to a slide in dairy prices, the sector remains the dominant one, accounting for more than half of all exports. Industrial and life sciences rose 7 per cent to €10.4 billion while technology and services exports rose 10 per cent to €8.5 billion.