Northern Ireland Broad Economy Sales and Exports Statistics: Goods and Services Results 2018
Date published:
The latest Broad Economy Sales and Exports Statistics (BESES) for 2018 were published today by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).
The bulletin can be accessed on Broad Economy Sales and Exports Statistics page of the NISRA website.
Main results:
- Total sales by companies in Northern Ireland (NI) were estimated to be worth £68.4billion in 2018, an increase of 3.5% (£2.3billion) over the year.
- Total sales of goods were estimated to be worth £46.3billion in 2018, an increase of 1.1% (£0.5billion) over the year.
- Sales of services represented 32.3% of total sales in 2018 and were estimated to be worth £22.1billion. Sales of services increased by 8.7% over the year (£1.8billion).
- External sales to markets outside of NI fell by £0.2billion (1.1%) to £21.7billion in 2018. This was driven by a continuing decline in the Food, Beverages and Tobacco sub sector.
- External sales of goods by NI companies were estimated to be worth £15.2billion in 2018, 70% of all external sales. This represents a decrease of 6.6% over the year (£1.1billion).
- External sales of services were estimated to be worth £6.5billion or 30% of all external sales in 2018. This represents an increase of 14.7% (£0.8billion) over the year.
- Exports (sales outside of the UK) were estimated to be worth £11.2billion in 2018, an increase of 8.1% (£0.8billion) over the year.
- Exports of goods were estimated to be worth £8.7billion in 2018, an increase of 5.8% (£0.5billion). Exports of goods represented 77.6% of all exports sales.
- Exports of services represented 22.4% of total export sales in 2018 and were estimated to be worth £2.5billion. Exports of services increased by 16.8% (£0.4billion) over the year.
- BESES estimates are not directly comparable with HMRC Regional Trade Statistics due to methodological differences.
Other Releases:
- The next Labour Market Report will be published on 17 March 2020.
- The Quarterly Employment Survey report for Quarter 4 2019 will be published on 17 March 2020.
- The Index of Production and Index of Services reports for Quarter 4 2019 will be published on 19 March 2020.
Notes to editors:
- NISRA published its BESES results relating to local businesses’ sales in 2018 to markets outside NI in December 2019. A copy Northern Ireland Broad Economy Sales and Exports Statistics 2018 can be found on NISRA website.
- This bulletin provides further disaggregation of these results into the value of goods and services sold. Figures for 2018 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 2019 and is available on the Annual Business Inquiry page of the NISRA website.
- 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. 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”.
- However plans are in place to have the BESES series assessed by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) in 2021 with a view to them receiving National Statistics accreditation.
- More detailed statistical information including data tables and definitions of the methodology used is available on the NISRA website.
- For media enquiries, please contact the Department for the Economy Press Office on 028 9052 9604 or pressoffice@economy-ni.gov.uk. Outside office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110.
- 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
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