Exporting advice
Strong, growing economy
There are a number of sectors in Ireland that are expected to grow considerably, offering opportunities for UK companies. These include the construction, life sciences (pharmaceuticals and medical devices), agritech and energy sector (off-shore wind and renewables).
First-time exporters
Ireland is a good place for UK businesses to try exporting for the first time, as business practices, laws, systems of finance and broader culture are similar to the UK. However, a set of competitive and strong product and service USPs are important to succeed in a competitive market environment.
Good perception of UK goods and services
There is a long history of strong trade between the UK and Ireland. Irish consumers and businesses are very familiar with UK goods and services and see them as high quality. UK companies receive positive support from local partners.
Top five UK goods exported to Ireland , in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2024
| Goods | Value (£ billion ) |
|---|---|
| Medicinal & pharmaceutical products | |
| Refined oil | |
| Gas | |
| Cereals | |
| Toilet & cleansing preparations |
Source:
ONS Trade in goods: country-by-commodity exports
Last updated: February 2025
Download the latest trade and investment factsheet for Ireland.
Total import value (into the UK from Ireland) and export value (from the UK into Ireland) over time
| Year | Imports (£ billion ) | Exports (£ billion ) | Total trade (£ billion ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 21.4 | 30.9 | 52.3 |
| 2017 | 23.3 | 36.5 | 59.8 |
| 2018 | 26.2 | 41.9 | 68.1 |
| 2019 | 25.2 | 40.5 | 65.7 |
| 2020 | 21.9 | 40.4 | 62.3 |
| 2021 | 23.3 | 41.6 | 64.8 |
| 2022 | 29.4 | 52.5 | 82.0 |
| 2023 | 30.4 | 54.0 | 84.4 |
Source:
ONS UK total trade: all countries, seasonally adjusted
Last updated: January 2025
Total trade is the sum of all exports and imports over the same time period.
Download the latest trade and investment factsheet for Ireland.
Ireland: at a glance
Economic growth
-5.5%
Actual figure (IMF, 2023)
The UK is 0.1% (IMF, 2023, projected figure)
GDP per capita
$103,466
Actual figure (IMF, 2023)
The UK is $49,099 (IMF, 2023, projected figure)
Currency
Euro
Business languages
English
Time zone
GMT +0
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Opportunities for exporters
The UK and Ireland have a long history of trade. Ireland is a world leader in a number of advanced sectors, with a large pool of Irish and multinational companies. Irish consumers are well informed and affluent, with a positive perception of UK goods and services.
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Ireland is a global leader in life sciences, with locally established companies operating alongside leading multinationals. The sector employs 50,000 people and has exports worth €45 billion annually. Public healthcare is provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Private healthcare providers are also widespread, offering exporters numerous partnership options.
Supply chain opportunities
Opportunities are available to enter the supply chain of Irish based manufacturers in both pharmaceuticals and medical technology. These companies import goods and materials to be used in the production process, and your company can be added to their supplier lists.
Demand for medical devices
UK companies have the potential to meet demand for medical devices in Ireland. Items that particularly interest the market include instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical and veterinary. There is a demand for needles, syringes, catheters and sterilisers. Export opportunities also exist for orthopaedic products, artificial body parts and hearing aids.
Healthcare sector opportunities
The HSE is moving to provide more care locally within primary care and community settings. It’s also seeking more digital health solutions. It plans to do 80% of its business with SMEs, with centralised procurement. UK companies can also focus on private sector facilities (hospitals and nursing homes).
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Ireland's infrastructure sector is undergoing significant transformation, driven by substantial investments and ambitious projects. The government has allocated €3.9 billion to the Department of Transport for 2025, focusing on road, rail, and public transport improvements. Projects like the MetroLink in Dublin and enhancements to regional transport networks are key areas for investment.
Large-scale infrastructure projects
The Irish government has unveiled Project Ireland 2040, a €165 billion plan which aims to guide Ireland’s development over the next 15 years. This will deliver significant investments in transport and infrastructure including roads, airports, rail, housing and urban regeneration, as well as creating a clear pipeline of work.
Opportunities for suppliers
UK companies, especially those with specialist contractor expertise in major infrastructure, are encouraged to register as a supplier and apply for public tenders. Then engage with the supply chain and explore the opportunities available in Ireland.
Water infrastructure
The water infrastructure sector in Ireland presents numerous opportunities for UK companies, particularly in areas of infrastructure development, technological innovation, consultancy, and sustainable solutions. By leveraging their expertise and experience, UK firms can play a significant role in addressing Ireland's water infrastructure challenges and contributing to its long-term sustainability.
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The Climate Action Plan states that by 2030 80% of electricity used in Ireland should come from renewable energy sources. Offshore wind (OSW) is set to play a key role in order to reach this '80 by 30' goal, with plans to add at least 5GW to the grid in this timeframe.
New sector opportunity
Despite the pending commercial opportunities, the Irish supply chain is still developing. Projects therefore rely on external companies coming to market, especially in the scoping and CAPEX (capital expenditures) phase, to lend support throughout.
Potential for collaboration
With the Irish supply chain still developing, there is a keen interest within the business and research community to collaborate on projects and learn from UK companies. This particularly applies to those UK companies with extensive expertise in the planning, management and build of OSW projects.
Demand for innovation
The development of floating OSW offers high potential. This is an attractive technology for Ireland’s West Coast, where higher wind rates offer greater electricity generation. This sub-sector offers first-mover advantages for technology development on a commercial scale.
Check for trade barriers
Trade barriers, such as tariffs or taxes, can raise costs, cause delays, or even stop you from exporting. Check for any issues that may impact your business when exporting.
Check duties and customs
Find information on how to export goods from the UK. View the duties, rules, restrictions, and the documents you need for your products.
Doing business in Ireland
If you're planning to export to Ireland, make sure you're aware of the market's unique taxes, laws and challenges. Contact our trade advisers for more information.
Preparing to export
Tax and customs
The Office of the Revenue Commissioners is responsible for tax and customs matters in Ireland.
VAT
Most goods or services supplied in Ireland are subject to VAT. Various rates apply, including:
- 23% standard rate
- 13.5% on a number of labour intensive services
- 9% on tourism goods and services
- 4.8% on livestock
- 0% on services supplied in the public interest such as food, medicine, children’s clothes, childcare and education
Regulations
Products and packaging should meet EU standards.
Local standards and technical regulations may apply. You should seek legal advice or guidance from the appropriate regulatory agency in Ireland.
Services regulations
Information on rules for selling services and business travel to Ireland is available on gov.uk
Intellectual property
Intellectual property (IP) rights are territorial. Rights granted in the UK do not provide protection elsewhere. You should consider getting IP protection abroad if you want to trade overseas or sell to overseas customers via the internet.
The Intellectual Property Office’s International IP Service provides practical information to help you protect, manage and enforce your IP abroad. Further support can be accessed through the service’s network of IP attachés. Based in key UK export markets, they provide guidance to British businesses on local IP matters.
Trade barriers
Check for any reported barriers to trading with Ireland.
Report any trade barriers that are affecting your business so we can help fix them.
Operating in Ireland
Doing business in Ireland
Business operations are very similar to the UK. However, there are certain challenges you should be aware of. These include high business costs and strong competition from Irish and European suppliers.
Payment terms
Direct debit mandates, Bankers’ Automated Clearing Services (BACS), Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and cheques are all widely used in Ireland.
Standard payment terms are usually 30 days. However, average payment days currently stand at 55 days.
Next steps
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