Mbabane – A steep decline in Irish exports to the United States has raised concerns for small export-dependent economies such as Eswatini that rely heavily on preferential access to the American market.
New figures reported by RTÉ News and released by Ireland’s Central Statistics Office show that the value of Irish goods exported to the United States fell by 51 percent year on year in November 2025 to 3.9 billion euros. The drop was largely driven by a sharp fall in pharmaceutical and chemical exports following months of unusually strong trade performance.
According to RTÉ News, the decline came after exporters front loaded shipments earlier in the year as companies rushed goods into the US market ahead of expected tariff changes. While the November figures point to a slowdown, exports to the United States between January and November were still 60 percent higher year on year at 108.4 billion euros, masking significant volatility in trade flows.
Overall Irish exports declined by 17 percent in November, although they remained 18 percent higher over the first eleven months of the year. Imports increased slightly by 1.8 percent. The downturn was concentrated mainly in medical and pharmaceutical products, while other sectors such as technology and organic chemicals continued to record growth.
For Eswatini, the Irish experience carries important lessons. The Kingdom depends heavily on the United States market through the African Growth and Opportunity Act, exporting products including sugar, textiles and beverages. The sudden shift in Irish trade performance illustrates how policy changes and external shocks can quickly disrupt export earnings and foreign exchange inflows.
Economists say the data points to the need for Eswatini to strengthen export diversification, expand value addition and build resilience against external policy decisions that can affect access to key markets.
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