1 July 2026 – Irish Independent
Rory McGinn, Business Reporter
Irish goods exports to Canada surge 88pc in first four months of the year
Irish merchandise exports to Canada surged by 88pc in the first four months of this year compared with the same period last year, according to a report commissioned by the Ireland Canada Business Association (ICBA).
The report said the sharp increase follows a difficult 2025, when exports fell after many Irish businesses brought forward shipments to the US ahead of the introduction of tariffs by US president Donald Trump.
It said the latest figures point to a strong recovery in trade with Canada during the opening months of this year.
It found exports of Irish goods and services to Canada increased from €3.3bn in 2017 to €8.1bn in 2024, while Irish service exports to Canada now exceed €4bn annually – up from €234m in 2003.
Merchandise imports from Canada were €1.59bn last year, it said.
While the latest ICBA report focuses on the strong growth recorded during the first four months of the year, an earlier economic report prepared for the association published in April provides a breakdown of the goods Ireland exports to Canada using full-year trade data for last year.
According to that report, overall total merchandise exports totalled €2.7bn last year.
Transport equipment was Ireland’s largest export to Canada last year, accounting for almost a quarter of all merchandise exports and worth €677m.
Organic chemicals were the second-biggest export at just over €505m, followed by office machines and automatic data processing equipment worth €438m.
Medicinal and pharmaceutical products accounted for €394m. Ireland also exported beverages, scientific equipment, electrical machinery, meat products, dairy products and cereals to Canada.
The latest report covering the first four months said that strengthening trade with Canada has become increasingly important to Ireland.
It said Ireland’s long-standing reliance on the US now represents a concentration risk and that deeper economic ties with Canada should become a strategic priority.
The report said that 73pc of the Canada’s merchandise exports currently go to the US.
It says Canada is aiming to double exports to markets outside the US by 2035 and is seeking closer links with Europe.
The report argues Ireland is well-placed to benefit because it is the only native English-speaking common law country in the EU.
The ICBA is calling for a number of measures to strengthen trade between the two countries.
This includes the full ratification of the EU-Canada trade agreement (CETA), improved direct air connectivity, more support for Irish businesses looking to expand into the Canadian market and collaboration in AI, life sciences and clean technology.
“Ireland and Canada are both outward-looking, innovation-driven economies that thrive on international co-operation,” said Dr Deirdre Giblin, the chair of the ICBA.
“While the opportunity strengthens, we now have the chance to match that potential with the continuance of a dedicated, institutional focus.
“When Ireland faced its deepest financial crisis, Canada stood firmly beside us. The question now is whether we use that foundation to build something proportionate to what both economies actually need from each other.”