The ICT and Life Sciences sectors showed significant growth in 2014 according to figures released today by The Irish Exporters Association (IEA) and Investec, who launched this year’s list of the Top 250 Exporters in Ireland and Northern Ireland today.
Google Ireland was named the largest exporting company, moving up one place from its previous year’s ranking. The search giant’s export turnover increased by 36.5%, from €12.5 billion in 2013 to €17 billion in 2014.
Google was followed by Microsoft Ireland Ltd (export turnover of €15billion), Johnson & Johnson (€10.5 billion), Dell Products (€8.6 billion) and Smurfit Kappa Group (€7.3 billion).
Total exports from the ICT sector within the top 250 grew by 3% in the past year maintaining Ireland’s place as a leading exporter of computer and IT services in the world. Of the Top 20 companies listed, eight of them are focused within the ICT arena.
Speaking about the contributino of the ICT sector, chief executive of the Irish Exporters Association Simon McKeever said: “It is no surprise that the ICT sector continues to perform as the leading export sector in the industry. The sector houses nine of the top 10 global software companies and 10 of the top global internet companies (all with strategic operations) in Ireland.
“It is one of the country’s most prevalent employers, directly employing over 80,000 people. In March of this year, the government published its Action Plan for Jobs 2014 – to fill 44,500 jobs for ICT professionals to 2018 to sustain the strength of the sector which is aimed at supporting 74% of industry demands domestically for ICT professionals by 2018 – up from 45% in 2011 and currently 60%.
Total exports from the sector within the top 250 grew by 3% in the past year maintaining Ireland’s place as a leading exporter of computer and IT services in the world. Of the Top 20 companies listed, eight of them are focused within the ICT arena.”
Life sciences
In The life sciences sector the top five pharmaceurical and medical technology exporters were: Johnson & Johnson (€10.5 billion), Pfizer (€5 billion), BSC International Holding (€3.5 billion), Gilead Sciences (€2.2 billion), and Warner Chilcott (€1.9 billion)
Ian Hunter, Equity Analyst, Investec and author of the independent report on the Life Sciences sector, added: “The pharmaceutical industry has been a stellar contributor to the growth in goods exported from Ireland this century. Having started the century generating €22.21 billion in exports and accounting for 26.5% of total goods exported, the sector peaked in 2010 at €46.36 billion and a 50.8% contribution to goods exported.”
The ongoing losses form the so-called patent cliff where name brand drugs are being replaced by generic alternatives, has been offset by the development of new products.
The medical devices sector was also cited as a high-point in the report. There are currently 250 indigenous med-tech companies, yet multinationals dominate the business, accounting for 80% of companies operating in Ireland. The sector has developed over the past 20 years into one employing the highest per capita number of medical technology personnel (25,000) in Europe. Currently, it exported goods to the value of €7.2 billion in 2013, which represents 8.3% of Ireland’s total merchandise exports.
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