Northern Ireland Broad Economy Sales and Exports Statistics: Goods and Services Results 2017

The latest experimental Broad Economy Sales and Exports Statistics (BESES) for 2017 were published today by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).

Northern Ireland Broad Economy Sales and Exports Statistics

The bulletin can be accessed via the NISRA website

Main results

• Total sales by companies in Northern Ireland (NI) were estimated to be worth £66.6 billion in 2017, a decrease of 7 per cent (£1.1 billion) over the year.
• Total sales of goods were estimated to be worth £45.8 billion in 2017, a decrease of 5.8 per cent (£8 billion) over the year
• Sales of services represented 31.3 per cent of total sales in 2017 and were estimated to be worth £20.8 billion. Sales of services increased by 8.9 per cent over the year (£1.7 billion).
• External sales to markets outside of NI fell by £2.4 billion (10.1 per cent) to £21.4 billion in 2017. These were driven by a substantial decline in the Food, Beverages and Tobacco sub sector.
• External sales of goods by NI companies were estimated to be worth £17 billion in 2017, 73.1 per cent of all external sales. This represents a decrease of 15.2 per cent over the year (£2.8 billion).
• External sales of services were estimated to be worth £5.8 billion or 29 per cent of all external sales in 2017. This represents an increase of 7.7 per cent (£0.4 billion) over the year.
• Exports (sales outside of the UK) were estimated to be worth £10.1 billion in 2017, an increase of 4.8 per cent (£0.5 billion) over the year.
• Exports of goods were estimated to be worth £1 billion in 2017, an increase of 3.5 per cent (£0.3 billion). Exports of goods represented 79.9 per cent of all exports sales.
• Exports of services represented 20.1 per cent of total export sales in 2017 and were estimated to be worth £2.0 billion. Exports of services increased by 10.7 per cent (£0.2 billion) over the year.
• BESES estimates are not directly comparable with HMRC Regional Trade Statistics due to methodological differences.

Notes to editors: 

1. The BESES series is designated as experimental statistics under the Code of Practice for Official Statistics reflecting the fact that they are still under development.

2. NISRA published its BESES results relating to local businesses’ sales in 2017 to markets outside NI in December 2018.

3. This bulletin provides further disaggregation of these results into the value of goods and services sold. Figures for 2017 are provisional and may be subject to revision. This information is also consistent with results for the non-financial business economy published by NISRA in November 2018 (Annual Business Inquiry (ABI)).

4. The Code of Practice for Official Statistics recommends releasing statistical work in progress, such as experimental statistics. These are defined as “new official statistics undergoing evaluation that are published in order to involve users and stakeholders in their development and as a means to build in quality at an early stage”.

5. More detailed statistical information including data tables and definitions of the methodology used is available on the NISRA website.

6. For media enquiries, please contact the Department for the Economy Press Office on 028 9052 9604. Outside office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110.

7. General information can be obtained from Damian Buchanan, Economic & Labour Market Statistics Branch, on Tel: (028) 9052 9648 or at damian.buchanan@nisra.gov.uk

8. Follow ELMS on Twitter @elmsnisra

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