British exports to Ireland fall by almost €1bn

The Republic of Ireland imported almost €1bn (£856m) less of British goods in January compared with the same month in 2020.

That represents a fall of 65%, with the decline of Great Britain food imports even steeper, down by 75%, according to Ireland's Central Statistics Office.

January was the first month of post-Brexit trading arrangements.

This meant Great Britain goods faced a range of new customs and regulatory controls when entering Ireland.

Some of the decline may have been influenced by stockpiling; imports of Great Britain chemical and pharma products were by down by 60% but that followed a spike in imports during December.

There may also have been some pandemic factors, for example the lockdown of hospitality may have had an effect on food imports.

However, food imports from the wider EU were only down by 13%.

Irish goods exports to Great Britain also fell, though not so dramatically.

They were down by €149m (£127) or 14% with exports of food down by 33%.

However, trade between Ireland and Northern Ireland increased compared to last year.

Imports from Northern Ireland were up by 10% from €161m (£137m) euros to €177m (£151m) while exports to Northern Ireland were up 17% from €170m (£145) to €199m (£170m).

That may reflect the operation of the Northern Ireland Protocol which means continuing frictionless trade between the two parts of Ireland.