Northern Ireland Broad Economy Sales and Exports Statistics 2020

Date Published: 15 December 2021
Geographical Area: Northern Ireland
Theme: Economy
Frequency: Annual

 

Key Points

The latest estimates of local businesses’ sales to markets outside Northern Ireland for 2020 are presented within this release. All values are in current prices and relate to the sales of both goods and services.

Total Sales

  • In 2020, total sales by companies in Northern Ireland (NI) were estimated to be worth £67.1 billion.

Sales by Destination

  • Sales within NI amounted to £45.9 billion, accounting for 68.4% of total sales.

  • The remainder of sales were fairly evenly split between those to GB (£10.9 billion) and sales to markets outside the UK (i.e. exports) of £10.3 billion, accounting for 16.3% and 15.3% of total sales respectively in 2020.

  • Exports to Ireland amounted to £4.1 billion in 2020 and were noticeably higher than those to the Rest of the EU combined (£2.0 billion). At £4.0 billion, exports to the Rest of the World were marginally lower than those to Ireland, with North America accounting for half (£2.0 billion) of such sales.

Change in Sales between 2019 and 2020

  • NI’s total sales decreased by 6.0% (£4.3 billion) over the calendar year, falling from £71.3 billion in 2019 to £67.1 billion in 2020. Business have reported that the Covid-19 pandemic was the significant factor in these falling sales.

  • Sales within NI also decreased over the period in question as did exports to Ireland (down £0.4 billion or 9.7%), the Rest of the EU (down £0.3 billion or 10.7%) and the Rest of the World (down £0.8 billion or 16.3%).

  • In contrast, sales to GB showed a marginal increase of 0.7% (£0.1 billion), rising from £10.8 billion in 2019 to £10.9 billion in 2020.

 

1 Introduction and Context

 

2 Summary and Commentary

2.1 Sales and Exports Performance


Total sales by companies in Northern Ireland (NI) were estimated to be worth £67.1 billion in 2020. This represents a decrease of 6.0% (£4.3 billion) over the year and compares to a previous annual increase of 3.7% in 2019.

In 2020, 31.6% of total sales were made to customers outside NI (external sales). This equated to £21.2 billion, representing a decrease of 6.2% (£1.4 billion) over the year.

Sales outside the UK (exports) were estimated to be worth £10.3 billion in 2020. This represented a decrease of 12.6% over the year, and follows an increase in the previous period (2018 – 2019) of 0.8%.

Figure 1 shows the values of total sales, and their broad destinations over the 9 year period (2011 to 2020). The downturn in total sales in 2020 and the concomitant effect on sales to each broad destination can be seen clearly. The vast majority of businesses reported that the decrease in total sales in 2020 was as a result of the impact of COVID-19 on business operations.

 

Figure 1: Sales by broad destination, 2011 – 2020 (£ billions)

 

2.2 Annual Changes in Sales over Time


Figure 2 provides information on annual percentage changes in total sales to selected destinations over the entire survey history (from survey year 2011).

Prior to 2020, and with the exception of the period 2016-17, total sales have consistently grown annually, although at varying rates. In 2016-17, total sales experienced negative growth for the first time in the time series - this was mainly driven by the first recorded decrease in GB sales. GB sales continued to experience negative growth from 2017-18, albeit at a reduced rate compared to 2016-17, but returned to positive growth over 2018-19 and GB was the only destination with sales growth in 2019-20.

Prior to 2020, NI sales had never fallen annually. The fall in exports in 2019-20 breaks the pattern of consistent growth in more recent years (from 2015-16 onwards). Exports to IE mirror this broad pattern, while the growth rates for REU and ROW are more erratic.

 

Figure 2: Annual Rate of Growth of Sales to Broad Destinations, 2011 – 2020

 

2.3 Analysis by Destination


Figure 3 and 4 below provide information on the value of total sales by destination in 2020 and the distribution of sales by broad destination over the course of the history of the survey (ie: from survey year 2011).

Over the last year (i.e. between 2019 and 2020), total sales decreased by 6.0% (£4.3 billion). This was largely driven by decreasing sales within NI (down 5.9% or £2.9 billion) and decreasing exports (down 12.6% or £1.5 billion).

Over the last year, exports to IE (£4.1 billion) have decreased by 9.7% (£0.4 billion). This follows an increase of 10.7% between 2018 and 2019 and 6.7% between 2017 and 2018. Exports to the REU decreased by 10.7% over the year while exports to the ROW decreased by 16.3%.

Sales to GB increased by £0.1 billion to £10.9 billion, up 0.7% over the year. GB is the only destination to experience a growth, albeit modest, in sales over the year. GB remained the most significant single market for external sales from Northern Ireland businesses, accounting for 16.3% of total sales.

Sales to outside the UK (exports) accounted for 15.3% of total sales. Exports to IE accounted for 6.1% of total sales and approximately two fifths (39.9%) of sales outside the UK. IE remains our single largest export market.

Over the course of 2020 exports to the REU decreased by 10.7% (£0.3 billion) to £2.2 billion. Exports to the REU accounted for 3.3% of total sales and over a fifth of exports (21.3%).

Exports to the ROW decreased by £0.8 billion (16.3%) over the year, to £4.0 billion. ROW sales accounted for 6.0% of total sales, and 38.9% of all exports.

External sales to markets outside NI are comprised of sales to GB plus the value of exports combined. These decreased by £1.4 billion to £21.2 billion, and accounted for almost one third of total sales in 2020 (31.6%).

Despite the large fall in total sales in 2019 - 2020, the relative distribution of sales to each destination has remained very similar to previous years. Figure 4 shows that the proportion of sales to each broad destination has remained relatively constant from 2011.

 

Figure 3: Total Sales by Destination, 2020 (£ billion)

Figure 4: Distribution of Sales by broad Destination, 2011 – 2020


2.4 Analysis by Industry Section


In 2020, the largest proportion of export sales was from the Manufacturing sector (Section C) which accounted for 58.4% (£6.0 billion) of all exports sales (£10.3 billion). Manufacturing exports decreased by 13.0% over the year, but have increased by 8.4% between 2011 and 2020.

The next largest exporter was Wholesale and Retail Trade (Section G) with 18.7% (£1.9 billion) of all exports sales. Exports in this section decreased by 12.2% over the year. This was followed by Information and Communication (Section J) which accounted for 6.4% of export sales (£0.7 billion) and Construction (Section F) which accounted for 4.7% (£0.5 billion) of export sales.

 

Figure 5: Export Sales by Industry Section, 2020 (£ millions)

Others refers to the following industry sectors: Water Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management And Remediation Activities; Electricity, Gas, Steam And Air Conditioning Supply; Agriculture, Forestry And Fishing; Mining And Quarrying; Real Estate Activities; Accommodation And Food Service Activities; Education (excludes local authority and central government bodies); Human health and social work activities (excludes local authority and central government, and medical and dental practice activities (group 86.2)); Arts, entertainment and recreation; Other service activities.

 

2.5 Analysis by Business Size


In 2020, large businesses (those with 250+ employees) had the highest total sales (£24.0 billion) and exports (£4.9 billion). Large businesses also exported more to both the REU and ROW than all other businesses combined. However exports to IE were largely driven by businesses with fewer than 250 employees.

Micro and small businesses (0-9 employees and 10-49 employees respectively) were much more reliant on NI sales, with larger proportions of their total sales made within NI, than the medium (50-249 employees) and large (250+ employees) businesses.

 

Figure 6: Destination of Sales by Business Employment Size, 2020 (£ billions)

 

2.6 Analysis by District Council Area


Maps showing the value of exports by District Council Area (DCA) and the number of exporters by District Council Area are presented in figures 7 and 8 respectively. In 2020, the largest value of exports came from businesses located in Belfast. Three of the top five exporters were DCAs situated next to the border with IE.

A similar pattern emerges when looking at the number of exporters, with Belfast and DCAs adjacent to the border having a larger number of exporters.

In some instances it is not possible to assign a business to a postcode. This is usually because the head office is outside NI. Such trade is labelled as “Unassigned”. In 2020, £521 million export sales and 331 exporters could not be allocated to a DCA. Users should refer to Appendix B for more information.

 

Figure 7: Value of exports by District Council Area, 2020 (£ millions)

Click on a DCA for more information

 

Figure 8: Number of exporters by District Council Area, 2020

Click on a DCA for more information

 

3 Index of Tables: 2011-2020

Table 1.1 Annual Series Sales & exports to broad destinations and annual change, 2011 - 2020
Table 1.2 Annual Series Turnover by industry sector, 2011 - 2020
Table 1.3 Annual Series Exports by industry sector, 2011 - 2020
Table 1.4 Annual Series Exports to markets within the rest of the EU and annual change, 2011 - 2020
Table 1.5 Annual Series Exports to markets outside the EU and annual change, 2011 - 2020
Table 1.6 Annual Series Sales & exports to broad destinations by business size, 2011 - 2020
Table 1.7 Annual Series Number of sellers and exporters by broad destinations and business size, 2011 - 2020
Table 1.8 Annual Series Number of businesses selling to destinations outside NI (External sales) by industry section, 2011 - 2020
Table 1.9 Annual Series Number of businesses exporting from NI by industry section, 2011 - 2020
Table 1.10 Annual Series Sales & exports by broad destination and District Council Area, 2011 - 2020
Table 1.11 Annual Series Number of businesses selling & exporting by broad destination and District Council Area, 2011 - 2020


The tables below include annual estimates with associated quality indicators (confidence intervals and coefficient of variation)


Table 2.1 2020 Sales & exports to broad destinations
Table 2.2 2020 Broad destination by industry sector
Table 2.3 2020 Exports to markets within the rest of the EU
Table 2.4 2020 Exports to markets outside the EU
Table 2.5 2020 Broad destination by business size
. . .
Table 3.1 2019 Sales & exports to broad destinations
Table 3.2 2019 Broad destination by industry sector
Table 3.3 2019 Exports to markets within the rest of the EU
Table 3.4 2019 Exports to markets outside the EU
Table 3.5 2019 Broad destination by business size
. . .
Table 4.1 2018 Sales & exports to broad destinations
Table 4.2 2018 Broad destination by industry sector
Table 4.3 2018 Exports to markets within the rest of the EU
Table 4.4 2018 Exports to markets outside the EU
Table 4.5 2018 Broad destination by business size
. . .
Table 5.1 2017 Sales & exports to broad destinations
Table 5.2 2017 Broad destination by industry sector
Table 5.3 2017 Exports to markets within the rest of the EU
Table 5.4 2017 Exports to markets outside the EU
Table 5.5 2017 Broad destination by business size
. . .
Table 6.1 2016 Sales & exports to broad destinations
Table 6.2 2016 Broad destination by industry sector
Table 6.3 2016 Exports to markets within the rest of the EU
Table 6.4 2016 Exports to markets outside the EU
Table 6.5 2016 Broad destination by business size
. . .
Table 7.1 2015 Sales & exports to broad destinations
Table 7.2 2015 Broad destination by industry sector
Table 7.3 2015 Exports to markets within the rest of the EU
Table 7.4 2015 Exports to markets outside the EU
Table 7.5 2015 Broad destination by business size
. . .
Table 8.1 2014 Sales & exports to broad destinations
Table 8.2 2014 Broad destination by industry sector
Table 8.3 2014 Exports to markets within the rest of the EU
Table 8.4 2014 Exports to markets outside the EU
Table 8.5 2014 Broad destination by business size
. . .
Table 9.1 2013 Sales & exports to broad destinations
Table 9.2 2013 Broad destination by industry sector
Table 9.3 2013 Exports to markets within the rest of the EU
Table 9.4 2013 Exports to markets outside the EU
Table 9.5 2013 Broad destination by business size
. . .
Table 10.1 2012 Sales & exports to broad destinations
Table 10.2 2012 Broad destination by industry sector
Table 10.3 2012 Exports to markets within the rest of the EU
Table 10.4 2012 Exports to markets outside the EU
Table 10.5 2012 Broad destination by business size
. . .
Table 11.1 2011 Sales & exports to broad destinations
Table 11.2 2011 Broad destination by industry sector
Table 11.3 2011 Exports to markets within the rest of the EU
Table 11.4 2011 Exports to markets outside the EU
Table 11.5 2011 Broad destination by business size
 

 

4 Background Notes

 

5 Appendices

 

Contact Information