Ireland enjoyed a steady economic growth post the EU-IMF bailout in late 2013 and the country placed itself as one of the fastest-growing European economies. In 2020, the Irish economy suffered from the successive lockdowns put in place to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, while the GDP growth fell to -3% from 5.9% in 2019. According to IMF estimates, the economy is set to bounce back in 2021 (+4.9%) and 2022 (+4.3%), supported by fiscal stimulus and liquidity-boosting measures, subject to the post-pandemic global economic recovery and the conclusion of the post-Brexit transition period.

The island nation in the North Atlantic region has recorded 66,852 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets and strips importation during 2018-19 and the amount expended for the import remained at $143.83 million. The import for 2020 stood at 28,804 tonnes and the expenditure remained at $64.40 million. However, when the import volume and expenditure for 2020 gets added with the existing two years, it denotes 95,656 tonnes and $208.23 million respectively.

Ireland’s import of aluminium plates, sheets and strips in 2018 remained at 29,860 tonnes and the revenue expended stood at $66 million, whereas, in 2019, the import saw impressive growth by 23.88%, as the import volume rose to 36,992 tonnes and the expenditure also grew to $77.83 million.

In 2020, the import reflected a sudden downfall by 22.13%, as the import volume dropped to 28,804 tonnes and the expenditure also dipped to $64.40 million.

Ireland’s major trading destinations for the import of aluminium plates, sheets and strips are Austria, Belgium, China, Denmark, Czech Rep., France, Germany, Hungary, South Africa, Etc.