Ireland’s trade surplus widened significantly to EUR 5.3 billion in July 2026 from EUR 4.1 billion in the same month a year earlier. This marked the largest surplus since September 2025, as exports jumped 12.5% year-on-year to EUR 18.9 billion, lifted by higher shipments of live animals except fish (+30.0%) and mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials (+116.1%). Among key trading partners, exports recorded strong increases to Great Britain (+34.0%), the USA (+16.0%), and Northern Ireland (+4.0%). Meanwhile, imports rose 7.5% to EUR 13.6 billion, driven largely by increased purchases of tobacco and tobacco manufactures (+51.5%) and electric current (+124.3%). Imports grew from the USA (+6.0%) and the rest of the world (+43.0%), but declined from Great Britain (-1.0%) and Northern Ireland (-16.0%). For the January-June period, the country recorded a surplus of EUR 29.1 billion, significantly lower than the EUR 82.7 billion recorded in the same period last year.