Ireland posts regular trade surpluses since 1985. In 2017, the trade surplus widened to an all-time high of EUR 45 billion, as both exports and imports were at the highest level on record. The biggest trade surpluses were recorded with the United States, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Germany; and the largest deficits were recorded with France and the United Kingdom.
A higher than expected figure should be seen as positive (bullish) for the EUR while a lower than expected figure should be seen as negative (bearish) for the EUR.