Some new analysis from @ONS on Northern Ireland trade today - though it largely confirms what we already know
Northern Ireland businesses conducted most international trade with the Republic of
Ireland, accounting for around 27% of exports and 23% of imports; however rUK is Northern Ireland’s biggest external market.
Ireland, accounting for around 27% of exports and 23% of imports; however rUK is Northern Ireland’s biggest external market.
More than 50% of Northern Ireland’s goods exports went to just two countries: Republic of Ireland & USA; the Republic was the most important destination for food and live animals, while the USA was the most important destination for machinery and transport.
Food and live animals represented around 33% of the total Northern Irish exports going to the Republic, of which the top sub-category was milk and cream products.
Almost 70% of exporting businesses in Northern Ireland were small (employing 0 to 49 workers), selling a small number of products to a few markets.
The biggest proportion of two-way trade in similar products was in food and live animals, suggesting integration of supply-chains in this category.
Businesses who only export to the Republic accounted for 32% of exporters and accommodated almost 17% of Northern Ireland workers who are employed in exporting businesses.
Canada was a more important trading partner for goods exports from Northern
Ireland, occupying fifth place, compared to rUK where it was 16th place. Which I guess is mainly a Bombardier effect.
Ireland, occupying fifth place, compared to rUK where it was 16th place. Which I guess is mainly a Bombardier effect.
In 2016, food and live animals’ exports from Northern Ireland accounted for
around 14% of goods exports from Northern Ireland, whereas the same category accounted for slightly less than 5% of the total exports from the UK
around 14% of goods exports from Northern Ireland, whereas the same category accounted for slightly less than 5% of the total exports from the UK
The category with the highest proportion of exports going to the USA was chemicals and related products. Which I guess is Almac, Norbrook & Actavis.
Milk and cream products, non-alcoholic beverages, feeding-stuff for
animals, and cereal preparations and preparations of flour starch of fruits and vegetables amounted to around 21% of total NI exports to the Republic of Ireland in 2016.
animals, and cereal preparations and preparations of flour starch of fruits and vegetables amounted to around 21% of total NI exports to the Republic of Ireland in 2016.
In2016 25% of Northern Irish exporters were exporting only one product, whereas only 0.4% exported 30 products This indicates a very high specialisation or low diversification amongst a quarter of Northern Irish exporters
On a methodological note: a significant number of small exporters to the Republic of Ireland and the EU may have been omitted from the ONS sample given Intrastat threshold rules.
The pattern in Northern Ireland is pretty standard: Most exporters are small in terms of product and destination coverage, but export volumes overall are dominated by the few extremely large exporters with a wide product and market
scope.
scope.
Between 2012 & 2016 new exporters contributed 44% of Northern Ireland export growth over the period.
