Irish manufacturing sector continues to display strong resilience despite ongoing global uncertainty

• Total exports rose by 43% in the first half of 2025
• Value of H1 2025 exports to the United States more than doubled to €75 billion

The Irish manufacturing sector continues to demonstrate its resilience according to a new Bank of Ireland report, with growth in new orders helping the sector post a +43% rise in total exports between January and June.

This sectoral boost is partly driven by a year-on-year +126% increase in exports to the United States, figures which can largely be attributed to the wider sector ‘getting ahead’ of the imposition of tariffs. Further boosts arose due to the sectors proven ability to weather largescale events as tariffs continue to impact on global trade.

Conor Magee, Head of Manufacturing Sector at Bank of Ireland, commented: “Ireland’s manufacturing sector remains in a strong place, displaying a responsiveness to events that helps it maintain a leading position supporting the domestic economy. The broader sector’s ambition is perhaps best exemplified by the pharmaceutical industry, which delivered an enormous half-yearly export hike of 218% in the first six months of 2025, dealing with events in an agile manner as they unfolded in real time.”

“Despite the imposition of tariffs, now settled at 15% following August’s US-EU trade deal, major US institutional investors recognise the value of their business interests here and their investments in Ireland.”

Small, and medium-sized enterprises also continue to thrive as multinational corporations reconfigure their supply chains, favouring local and secure partnerships. An ever-increasing number of companies are now taking more ownership of the different stages of their own supply chains, leading to more efficient practises and responsiveness.

The ‘green’ transition also continues to accelerate in the sector, with energy inflation and supply shortages sparking a move to greener alternatives. Companies are quietly progressing with a range of decarbonisation measures, whilst retaining ESG fundamentals as part of their core business operations. These practises look likely to continue as the level of funding grants increase.