Ireland-Belgium Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $22.34B total volume โ€ขIreland surplus: $15.69B

Ireland โ†’ Belgium

$19.01B

Exports (2023)

Belgium โ†’ Ireland

$3.33B

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$15.69B

Surplus for Ireland

Total Trade

$22.34B

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Ireland and Belgium. 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-Belgium commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

Ireland โ†’ Belgium Exports

$19.01B
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Highly Diversified
Market Share:
32.7% top product
1Vaccines: for human medicine
$6.22B
32.7% of exports
2Medicaments: containing hormones (excluding insulin), (but not containing antibiotics), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, not packaged for retail sale
$2.50B
13.1% of exports
3Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
$2.00B
10.5% of exports
4Heterocyclic compounds: containing an unfused pyridine ring (whether or not hydrogenated) in the structure, n.e.c. in 2933.3
$1.71B
9.0% of exports
5Blood, human or animal, antisera, other blood fractions and immunological products: immunological products, mixed, put up in measured doses or in forms or packings for retail sale
$1.22B
6.4% of exports
6Polypeptide hormones, protein hormones and glycoprotein hormones, their derivatives and structural analogues: somatotropin, its derivatives and structural analogues
$967.19M
5.1% of exports
7Heterocyclic compounds: lactams: other than 6-hexanelactam (epsilon caprolactam) and clobazam (INN) and methyprylon (INN)
$642.83M
3.4% of exports
8Sulphonamides: n.e.c. in heading no. 2935
$488.97M
2.6% of exports
9Heterocyclic compounds: n.e.c. in headings no. 2933
$324.87M
1.7% of exports
10Blood, 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
$290.99M
1.5% of exports

๐ŸŽฏ Strategic Export Focus

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

Belgium โ†’ Ireland Imports

$3.33B
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Well Diversified
Critical Imports:
10.6% concentration
1Vehicles: with both spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine and electric motor for propulsion, incapable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power
$353.59M
10.6% of imports
2Petroleum 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
$210.14M
6.3% of imports
3Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
$186.22M
5.6% of imports
4Vaccines: for human medicine
$171.47M
5.2% of imports
5Blood, 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
$100.32M
3.0% of imports
6Edible mixtures or preparations of animal or vegetable fats or oils or of fractions of different fats or oils of this chapter, other than edible fats or oils of heading no. 1516
$95.01M
2.9% of imports
7Vehicles: with only electric motor for propulsion
$91.86M
2.8% of imports
8Blood, human or animal, antisera, other blood fractions and immunological products: immunological products, unmixed, not put up in measured doses or in forms or packings for retail sale
$84.91M
2.6% of imports
9Vegetable preparations: potatoes, prepared or preserved otherwise than by vinegar or acetic acid, frozen
$77.48M
2.3% of imports
10Vehicles: with both spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine and electric motor for propulsion, capable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power
$73.51M
2.2% of imports

๐Ÿ“ฆ Import Strategy Analysis

Ireland's import pattern from Belgium reveals significant dependencyin vehicles: with both spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine and electric motor for propulsion, incapable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

๐Ÿ†

Market Leadership

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

Export Leader in 20+ Categories
๐Ÿ”„

Trade Complementarity

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

Specialized Exchange
๐Ÿ“ˆ

Growth Potential

The $22.34B trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Major Partnership

Executive Summary: Ireland-Belgium Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $22.34 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Ireland maintains a surplus of $15.69 billion
  • Export Focus: Ireland's primary exports include vaccines: for human medicine, medicaments: containing hormones (excluding insulin), (but not containing antibiotics), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, not packaged for retail sale, medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Belgium include vehicles: with both spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine and electric motor for propulsion, incapable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power, petroleum 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, medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationDiversified
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

๐Ÿ“ˆ 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 $22.34B 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 Belgium's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in vehicles: with both spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine and electric motor for propulsion, incapable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $22.34B bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationLow
Market DependencyHigh
๐Ÿ”ฎ

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $22.34B 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

๐Ÿ’ฐ

Trade Volume Impact

The $22.34 billion bilateral trade volume represents a significant economic factorfor both economies.

Economic Significance: High
๐Ÿญ

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in vaccines: for human medicine and vehicles: with both spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine and electric motor for propulsion, incapable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Diversified
โš–๏ธ

Trade Balance Effects

Ireland's trade surplus of $15.69 billion strengthens its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Export Advantage

Strategic Future Outlook

๐Ÿš€Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in medicaments: containing hormones (excluding insulin), (but not containing antibiotics), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, not packaged for retail sale present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on vehicles: with both spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine and electric motor for propulsion, incapable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

โš ๏ธRisk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
High trade imbalance may create supply chain risks
Market Competition
Global competition in vaccines: for human medicine may affect future market positioning.

๐ŸŽฏStrategic 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 Belgium represents a total trade volume of $22.34 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates a favorable trade balance for Ireland, with exports exceeding importsby $15.69 billion.

Export Strengths

Ireland's exports to Belgium total $19.01 billion, with competitive advantages in vaccines: for human medicine, representing $6.22B or32.7% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Belgium amount to $3.33 billion, highlighting economic interdependence in vehicles: with both spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine and electric motor for propulsion, incapable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power, with Vehicles: with both spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine and electric motor for propulsion, incapable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power comprising10.6% 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 Belgium in multiple formats.

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