Delivering Value for Ireland: Trade and Investment Report 2021

This report highlights the importance of international trade to Ireland, and the role played by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, together with the enterprise agencies - Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland - in increasing exports, supporting trade and attracting inward investment.

Ireland’s record performance - €451 billion exports in 2021 - is set against the backdrop of ongoing trading challenges and geopolitical disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit, growing protectionism, trade tensions, and global tax developments.

Almost half of Ireland’s workforce - 1.3 million jobs - is underpinned by international trade and investment. Over the past decade, Ireland’s trade in goods and services has increased by 171% from €310 billion to over €840 billion today. Last year was a record year for exports. This outstanding performance is particularly noteworthy against the ongoing global challenges to trade.