Business Relations
Ireland ranks as Estonia’s 32nd-36th main trading partner.
TRADE
According to the data of Statistics Estonia, Ireland ranked as Estonia’s 36th trading partner in 2019 (turnover 72,3 mln euros, 0,2% of total trade). Estonian exports to Ireland made up 20 mln euros and import from Ireland 52 mln euros. During 2015-2018 Estonian export to Ireland declined, but started to grow again in 2019. The largest export items to Ireland are wood and wooden products and machinery and equipment. The export of goods of an Estonian origin has also declined – 95% share in 2014, 60% share in 2017.
Trade between Estonia and Ireland in 2014-2019 (million euros):
| Year | Export | % | Import | % | Turnover | %l |
| 2014 | 24.9 | 0.2% | 36.3 | 0.3% | 61.2 | 0.2% |
| 2015 | 19.6 | 0.2% | 44.3 | 0.3% | 63.9 | 0.3% |
| 2016 | 17.7 | 0.2% | 49.5 | 0.4% | 67.2 | 0.3% |
| 2017 | 14.0 | 0.1% | 75.6 | 0.5% | 89.6 | 0.3% |
| 2018 |
17.5 | 0.1% | 52.2 | 0.3% | 69.7 | 0.2% |
| 2019 | 20.0 | 0.1% | 52.3 | 0.3% | 72.3 | 0.2% |
All economic figures originate from the Statistical Office of Estonia
Main export articles in 2019:
- Wood and wooden products – 20%
- Machinery and equipment – 16.5%
- Chemical products – 15%
Main import articles in 2018:
- Machinery and equipment – 64%
- Prepared foodstuffs, beverages – 8.8%
- Chemical (including pharmaceutical) products – 8%
INVESTMENTS
According to data from the Bank of Estonia, as of 31.12.2019, Irish companies had made investments totalling 182 million euros in Estonia, which is an increase from 101 million years the year before. Most Irish investments are made in real estate, finance and insurance.
According to the Estonian Commercial Register, there were 133 businesses with Irish capital registered in Estonia, as of September 2019. The largest Irish investments are in enterprises such as Domina Vacanze Holding (Pro Kapital), Baltic Advisor (financial consulting), Eesti ERA (agriculture), Saka ERA (agriculture), OÜ Kserum Trans Service (construction works).
As of 31.12.2019, Estonian companies had invested approximately 1.5 million euros in Ireland, mainly in the wholesale and retail trade, ICT, real estate and professional, scientific and technical activities.
TOURISM
Interest among Irish residents towards Estonia has been steadily increasing over the years. There were 9,800 visits in 2018, compared to 8,100 in 2016. Over 70% of the visits to Estonia were several days long and on average lasted for approximately 5,1 days. Most popular destinations alongside Tallinn were Tartu county and Pärnu county. In December 2010, Ryanair established a direct flight route between Tallinn and Dublin, which has worked in favour of increasing the number of visitors from Ireland.
Estonian residents made 7,300 visits to Ireland in 2018, compared to almost 8,000 in 2017. Most of the visits lasted for multiple days and Estonian residents spent on average 4,9 days in the country.