Ireland
↔
China

Ireland-China Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $24.92B total volume •Ireland surplus: $8.78B

Ireland → China

$16.85B

Exports (2023)

China → Ireland

$8.07B

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$8.78B

Surplus for Ireland

Total Trade

$24.92B

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Ireland and China. Green line shows exports from Ireland, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Ireland-China commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

Ireland → China Exports

$16.85B
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Highly Diversified
Market Share:
27.0% top product
1Vaccines: for human medicine
$4.55B
27.0% of exports
2Electronic integrated circuits: processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits
$4.47B
26.5% of exports
3Aeroplanes and other aircraft: of an unladen weight exceeding 15,000kg
$1.16B
6.9% of exports
4Blood, human or animal, antisera, other blood fractions and immunological products: immunological products, put up in measured doses or in forms or packings for retail sale
$1.10B
6.5% of exports
5Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
$676.11M
4.0% of exports
6Optical media: recorded, excluding products of Chapter 37
$566.40M
3.4% of exports
7Heterocyclic compounds: n.e.c. in headings no. 2933
$495.98M
2.9% of exports
8Food preparations: of flour, meal, starch, malt extract or milk products, suitable for infants or young children, put up for retail sale
$300.08M
1.8% of exports
9Toxins, cultures of micro-organisms (excluding yeasts) and similar products
$294.24M
1.7% of exports
10Jewellery: of precious metal (excluding silver) whether or not plated or clad with precious metal, and parts thereof
$292.04M
1.7% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Ireland's export portfolio to China demonstrates strong diversification across multiple sectors, with vaccines: for human medicine representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

China → Ireland Imports

$8.07B
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Well Diversified
Critical Imports:
11.0% concentration
1Heterocyclic compounds: lactams: other than 6-hexanelactam (epsilon caprolactam) and clobazam (INN) and methyprylon (INN)
$886.00M
11.0% of imports
2Communication apparatus (excluding telephone sets or base stations): machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing apparatus
$335.17M
4.2% of imports
3Machinery: parts and accessories (other than covers, carrying cases and the like) of the machines of heading no. 8471
$299.05M
3.7% of imports
4Automatic data processing machines: portable, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display
$204.65M
2.5% of imports
5Cyclic amides (including cyclic carbamates) and their derivatives: other than the derivatives and salts of ureines, 2-acetamidobenzoic acid (N-acetylanthancillic acid),ethinamate S, and alachlor (ISO) and their derivatives and salts
$183.47M
2.3% of imports
6Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks
$182.55M
2.3% of imports
7Heterocyclic compounds: n.e.c. in headings no. 2933
$175.77M
2.2% of imports
8Nucleic acids and their salts, other heterocyclic compounds, n.e.c. in heading number 2934
$156.98M
1.9% of imports
9Vehicles: with only electric motor for propulsion
$136.83M
1.7% of imports
10Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils
$135.28M
1.7% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Ireland's import pattern from China reveals significant dependencyin heterocyclic compounds: lactams: other than 6-hexanelactam (epsilon caprolactam) and clobazam (inn) and methyprylon (inn), highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Ireland demonstrates competitive strength in exportingvaccines: for human medicine to China, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 20+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $24.92B trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Major Partnership

Executive Summary: Ireland-China Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $24.92 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Ireland maintains a surplus of $8.78 billion
  • Export Focus: Ireland's primary exports include vaccines: for human medicine, electronic integrated circuits: processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits, aeroplanes and other aircraft: of an unladen weight exceeding 15,000kg
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from China include heterocyclic compounds: lactams: other than 6-hexanelactam (epsilon caprolactam) and clobazam (inn) and methyprylon (inn), communication apparatus (excluding telephone sets or base stations): machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing apparatus, machinery: parts and accessories (other than covers, carrying cases and the like) of the machines of heading no. 8471

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationDiversified
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents a significant global trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $24.92B represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with Ireland leveraging its comparative advantages in vaccines: for human medicine.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

Ireland's specialization in vaccines: for human medicinecomplements China's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in heterocyclic compounds: lactams: other than 6-hexanelactam (epsilon caprolactam) and clobazam (inn) and methyprylon (inn).

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $24.92B bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationLow
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $24.92B bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $24.92 billion bilateral trade volume represents a significant economic factorfor both economies.

Economic Significance: High
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in vaccines: for human medicine and heterocyclic compounds: lactams: other than 6-hexanelactam (epsilon caprolactam) and clobazam (inn) and methyprylon (inn) demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Diversified
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Ireland's trade surplus of $8.78 billion strengthens its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Export Advantage

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in electronic integrated circuits: processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on heterocyclic compounds: lactams: other than 6-hexanelactam (epsilon caprolactam) and clobazam (inn) and methyprylon (inn), new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Moderate concentration in key sectors requires monitoring
Market Competition
Global competition in vaccines: for human medicine may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between Ireland and China represents a total trade volume of $24.92 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates a favorable trade balance for Ireland, with exports exceeding importsby $8.78 billion.

Export Strengths

Ireland's exports to China total $16.85 billion, with competitive advantages in vaccines: for human medicine, representing $4.55B or27.0% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from China amount to $8.07 billion, highlighting economic interdependence in heterocyclic compounds: lactams: other than 6-hexanelactam (epsilon caprolactam) and clobazam (inn) and methyprylon (inn), with Heterocyclic compounds: lactams: other than 6-hexanelactam (epsilon caprolactam) and clobazam (INN) and methyprylon (INN) comprising11.0% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade surplus indicates Ireland's competitive position in this bilateral relationship. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between Ireland and China in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023