Economy, Commerce and Trade

Dublin and Cork are the manufacturing, financial, and commercial centers of Ireland. Dublin is the most important seaport; Cork is the main port for transatlantic passenger travel. Other significant ports include Dun Laoghaire, Waterford, Rosslare, and Limerick. Ireland became a member of the European Community (now called the European Union) in 1973, thus expanding the market for the country’s important agricultural exports. Imports in 2000 totaled $50.5 billion, and exports, including reexports, $76.9 billion. The major trading partners of Ireland include the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, France, and Japan. The most important exports include electrical and electronic equipment, livestock, meat, dairy products, chemicals, and textiles and clothing; about two-thirds of all exports are to the countries of the European Union. Imports are primarily machinery, transport equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, cereals and foodstuffs, textiles, and iron and steel.

Tourism has been effectively promoted and has increased steadily in importance. In 2000, some 6.7 million tourists spent $3.6 billion in Ireland.