Enterprise Ireland says exports by client companies increased by 12% to an estimated €27.3bn in 2021.
The state agency responsible for helping Irish companies to grow and expand internationally said it was the highest level of growth for Enterprise Ireland-backed companies in terms of export value.
Exports to the UK by EI clients rose 15% to €8.4bn while exports to eurozone countries increased 10% to just over €6bn.Digital technology exports were estimated at €1.5bn in goods and services, an increase of more than a fifth year-on-year, while engineering exports rose 14% to €1.8bn.
Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, said the results were "exceptionally strong".
"While the UK remains our largest trading partner it is good to see that our strategy to grow exports in other key markets, especially the eurozone, continues to pay dividends," he added.
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Enterprise minister Leo Varadkar commented: "We’re working hard to diversify our export base and I’m glad to see exports up so substantially in the eurozone and North America. We also saw significant increases in our smaller markets like the Middle East, Africa, India and Latin America.
“We have plenty of challenges still ahead. The global inflation crisis and the war in Ukraine are putting huge pressure on energy supplies, providing another impetus on business to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and do what they can to become more efficient with their resources. Enterprise has an important role to play in limiting climate disruption.
"There is a lot of information, grants and training available to help businesses make the necessary changes. I know it can be overwhelming, especially in the context of many other priorities, but government is on hand to help.”
Enterprise Ireland said the growing effects of inflation on energy costs and supply chains and a lack fo experience staff as among the significant issues facing clients.
“Our focus in the second half of the year is to work with clients to help them sustain and grow their employment, to support them through company investments to address sustainability and competitiveness issues and to continue to work with clients to build their export markets,” said Clancy.
Photo(l-r): Colm McGarvey of Selio Medical, Fiona Mangan of Loci Orthopaedics, Leo Clancy, Dr Catherine Caulfield of Ovagen, Stephen Cox of Invera Medical and Sean Burke of EIC Programme.
