Exports of food and live animals increased in the first quarter of 2026 compared to 2025, new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show.

From January to March 2026, €3.751 billion worth of food and live animals were exported compared to €3.698 billion during the same timeframe in 2025.

March 2026 saw €1.434 billion in food and live animal exports, compared to €1.36 billion in March 2025.

Imports of food and live animals totalled €2.594 billion from January to March 2026, down from €2.687 billion in 2025.

Goods exports and imports

According to the CSO, seasonally adjusted goods exports increased by €761.6 million (+4.8%) to €16.7 billion in March 2026 compared with February 2026 (€15.9 billion).

Seasonally adjusted goods imports rose by €862.5 million (+7.0%) to €13.1 billion.

The value of goods exports in March 2026 was €18.3 billion, a fall of €19.3 billion (-51.4%) compared with March 2025 (€37.6 billion).

The value of exported goods in quarter 1 (Q1) 2026 decreased by €37.6 billion (-43%) to €49.9 billion, when compared with Q1 2025 (€87.4 billion).

Comparing Q1 2024 and Q1 2026, the value of export goods fell by €4.1 billion (-7.6%) from €54 billion in Q1 2024 to €49.9 billion in Q1 2026.

The value of goods imports went up by €1.2 billion (+9.3%) to €14.3 billion in March 2026 compared with March 2025 (€13.1 billion).

The value of imported goods in Q1 2026 increased by €0.8 billion (+2.2%) to €36.9 billion, when compared with Q1 2025 (€36.1 billion).

Exports of goods to Great Britain rose by €764.2 million (+64.1%) to €2.0 billion in March 2026 compared with March 2025 (€1.2 billion), with exports to Great Britain accounting for 10.7% of total export trade in March 2026.