The table provides details of the ten countries from whence most Irish imports have come in each of the past five years (i.e. between the years 2001 and 2005.) From the table, it can be seen that during the period 2001-2005, with the exception of Singapore which has dropped out of the list and the significant rise of China, the list of the top ten import markets has largely remained the same.
This table provides details of the total value of imports from the 10 main import markets. From this table, it can be seen that, the total value of imports from these 10 countries is essentially at the same level in 2005 as 2001. However, when one considers the effect of the time-value of money in the interim, the value of imports coming from the 10 main import markets has in fact fallen.
One significant factor in this development is that the total value of imports from Great Britain fell from €19 billion in 2001 to €13 billion in 2003, and has now risen again to €16 billion in 2005. Apart from the gradual shift away from over-reliance on the UK as our main trading partner (in 1960 75% of Irish exports were destined for the UK, now that figure is at 18%), the dramatic reduction in imports from and exports to Great Britain may have been influenced by what is referred to as a VAT Carousel Fraud, which resulted in export figures being significantly inflated. (This did not result in significant loss of VAT to the Irish Exchequer, but resulted in VAT evasion abroad, particularly in the UK).
Elsewhere, import values from our other main import markets, USA, Germany and France remained largely the same. The value of imports from Northern Ireland remained consistent at just over €1 billion per annum during this period. It is notable that the value of imports from China increased significantly during this period, from just under €1 billion in 2001 to €3.7 billion in 2005. However, there has been a corresponding increase in the value of Irish exports to China during this period also.
Ten Main Import Markets 2001-2005
No.
|
2005
|
2004
|
2003
|
2002
|
2001
|
1.
|
Great Britain
|
Great Britain
|
Great Britain
|
Great Britain
|
Great Britain
|
2.
|
USA
|
USA
|
USA
|
USA
|
USA
|
3.
|
Germany
|
Germany
|
Germany
|
Germany
|
Germany
|
4.
|
China
|
China
|
Japan
|
France
|
France
|
5.
|
Netherlands
|
France
|
China
|
Japan
|
Japan
|
6.
|
Japan
|
Japan
|
France
|
Netherlands
|
Netherlands
|
7.
|
France
|
Netherlands
|
Netherlands
|
China
|
Singapore
|
8.
|
Norway
|
Nthn. Ireland
|
Italy
|
Italy
|
Nthn. Ireland
|
9.
|
Italy
|
Italy
|
Singapore
|
Nthn. Ireland
|
Italy
|
10.
|
Nthn. Ireland
|
South Korea
|
Nthn. Ireland
|
Taiwan
|
China
|
Total value of imports from the ten main import markets
2005
|
2004
|
2003
|
2002
|
2001
|
€42.2 billion
|
€37 billion
|
€35.1 billion
|
€42.3 billion
|
€43.5 billion
|