Irish exports fell by 43% to €21.9 billion in April compared to March
Kenneth Fox
Ireland's exports fell by 43 per cent in April compared to March 2025, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Exports did increase by €2.5 billion (+12.7 per cent) to €21.9 billion, compared with April 2024 but fell by €16.24 billion in April 2025 compared with March 2025 to €38.1 billion.
Exports of goods to the US fell by €16 billion (-62 per cent) to €9.7 billion in April 2025 compared with March 2025 (€25.7 billion).
However, exports of goods to the US rose by €3.2 billion (48.6 per cent) to €9.7 billion in April 2025 compared with April 2024 (€6.6 billion).
Exports of medical & pharmaceutical products were down by €12.8 billion (-54 per cent) in April 2025 compared with March 2025.
They went up by €2.1 billion (+23.6 per cent) to €10.9 billion in April 2025 compared with April 2024 (€8.8 billion).
In the first four months of the year, exports to the United States were up 170 per cent (€37.9 billion) compared to the same period last year - €60.2 billion in the first four months of 2025 compared with €22.3 billion in the same period in 2024.
Following the publication, Carol Lynch, head of customs and international trade services at BDO said: “Overall, we can see that the expected significant exports to the US are now falling back to a lower level, but a level that is still well above that of April 2024 – illustrated by the fact that exports to the US in the first four months of 2025 were 170 per cent higher than in the same period last year.”
"Exports of medical and pharmaceuticals represented over 60 per cent of total YTD exports, highlighting Ireland’s heavy dependence on this sector.
"This is one to watch as pharmaceutical products are currently exempt from Trump’s 10 per cent universal tariffs but are subject to Section 232 investigations with a consequent risk of a 25 per cent tariff (if the same rates as resulted from other S232 tariffs apply).”
“The next most significant date for companies to focus on next will be July 9th when the current ‘pause’ on lower reciprocal tariffs ends."
Ms Lynch said the rate of 25 per cent originally applied to the EU was due to be implemented on 9th April but this has been paused to allow for negotiations between the EU and US. Should those negotiations fail, then the 25 per cent tariff will kick in
“The other big question of interest to Irish exporters is whether the Liberation Day tariffs will in fact be allowed to continue at all.
"These tariffs have been ‘invalidated’ by the US Courts, but they continue to exist while an appeal on the invalidation decision is being heard by the Courts. President Trump has made it clear that he wishes the 10 per cent universal rate to continue as a new minimum - so this is one to watch," she said.
