In its latest statistical release, which covers the first three months of 2021, the CSO states that imports from Northern Ireland rose by €1,061 million to €2,822 million when compared with the same period in 2020. That represents a huge increase of over 60%.
Exports to Northern Ireland have also gone up noticeably to €2,577 million between January to September 2021, an increase of €835 million on the equivalent period in 2020. This amounts to a rise of 48%.
Despite Brexit, Ireland’s exports to Great Britain have also increased this year in comparison to 2020. The CSO writes that the value of goods exports to Great Britain in the first nine months of 2021 was €10,605 million, an increase of €1,977 million (+23%) on the first nine months of 2020.
However, this upward trend was not reflected when it comes to imports from Great Britain. According to the CSO, the value of goods imports from Great Britain for January to September 2021 was €9,435 million, a decrease of €2,437 million (-21%) compared with January to September 2020.
When it comes to trade with the rest of the EU, total EU exports in September 2021 increased by €278 million (+5%) compared with September 2020. As for imports, the EU accounted for €2,401 million (29%) of total goods imports in September 2021, which is an increase of €325 million (+16%) compared with September 2020.
The data thus indicates that Ireland has exported more to Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the EU since Brexit came into effect. It is also importing more from the EU and Northern Ireland, while taking in less goods from Great Britain.
The news comes amid reports of Brexit Minister Lord Frost toning down his language regarding the possibility of triggering Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol.
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