Internet companies were one of the main drivers of the services export sector last year accounting for €79 billion in exports, and 46 per cent of total Irish exports, according to a new publication.
The Top 250 Exporting Companies in Ireland, which is to be published today by the Irish Exporters’ Association, also shows a continued shift in dependence on the domestic market by indigenous Irish companies.
The top five indigenous companies – Smurfit, Kerry Group, Glanbia, Glen Dimplex and the Irish Dairy Board – showed international sales of €17.3 billion last year, with more than 50 per cent of the sales being generated outside Ireland.
Google’s export turnover increased by 55 per cent from €6.5 billion in last year’s listing to €10.1 billion in the current year, with the Irish operation now Google’s largest outside of the United States, according to the publication.
Johnson & Johnson feature as the third largest exporter with export sales of €9.8 billion, Pfizer in 5th position with €6.8 billion in export sales, and medical devices manufacturer Stryker in 7th position with exports sales of €5.5 billion. In 2011 the export trade of pharmaceuticals and medical devices was over €56 billion.
“It is striking to see that our largest exporter is now Google with exports from Ireland of €10.1 billion, just ahead of Microsoft’s exports,” IEA chief executive John Whelan said.
“But also there are a new breed of fast growing ICT now operating from Ireland all adding to the sectors export growth, such as Facebook, EA Games, LinkedIn, Gilt Groupe, Big Fish Games, Quest Software, Marketo and ZeniMax”.
Aisling Dodgson, head of treasury, Investec Ireland, said: “We believe that the export sector will be a key component in the recovery of the Irish Economy and we are heartened to see that Irish exports grew by 5 per cent in 2011. Over the past three quarters the euro has weakened and this has helped Irish Exporters from a competitiveness viewpoint”.
The TOP 250 Export Companies rankings were based on the most recent available turnover figures provided by Stubbs Gazette for the Irish Exporters Association.
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