Go Further Grow Stronger

Increasing sales from businesses in Northern Ireland to markets outside the region is one of the most effective ways to stimulate economic recovery and transform the Northern Ireland economy growth. Get support to export globally.
Go Further Grow Stronger
Northern Ireland’s 10X Vision sets out the ambition to harness trade opportunities outside Northern Ireland to create a more prosperous and competitive economy for all.
Your business can be part of that exciting transformation. By exploring the export opportunities and accessing the support available, your business can go further and grow stronger.
Why should I sell outside NI?
Last year, Northern Ireland businesses generated external sales of goods and services worth £24.9 billion globally. We export almost 30% of our services, with exports accounting for 8 – 10% of all our advanced manufacturing, construction, and production/agricultural export sales. Total external sales by companies in Northern Ireland were estimated to be worth £77.1 billion in 2021 an increase of 7.2% (£5.2 billion) from 2019. - NI Economics Trade Statistics, NISRA (2022)
Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland
For businesses looking to sell their product or service outside Northern Ireland for the first time, the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and Great Britain (GB) are ideal markets to test the water and grow sales as well as your customer base.
Northern Ireland businesses have generated £12.8 billion in sales to ROI and GB in 2021.
Americas
Comprising the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Americas has 13% of the world's population and offers immense export opportunities for Northern Ireland businesses in sectors such as Agri-Tech, Fintech, and Waste & Recycling.
Export sales from Northern Ireland to the territory in 2021 totalled £1.6 billion. – NI Economics Trade Statistics, NISRA (2022)
Asia Pacific
A highly sought export market, in 2020 Asia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) overtook the combined total of the rest of the world and offer export opportunities in sectors including Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering, Life and Health Sciences, and Technology.
Northern Ireland businesses exported to the scale of £894 million to Asia Pacific in 2021. – NI Economics Trade Statistics, NISRA (2022)
Europe
Europe forms the world's largest trading block with enormous import and export opportunities.
Companies have excelled in this market within the Technology, Life & Health Sciences, Materials Handling, and Aerospace sectors amongst others.
Exports from Northern Ireland businesses totalled £7.8 billion in 2021. - NI Economics Trade Statistics, NISRA (2022)
India, Middle East and Africa
India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA) have immense economic and commercial potential for Northern Ireland business, particularly for those working in Materials Handling, Food & Drink, and Life and Health Sciences.
Local exports to the territory in 2021 were £459 million. - NI Economics Trade Statistics, NISRA (2022)
As well as the potential benefits of increased sales and greater profits, targeting markets outside Northern Ireland can also:
- Stimulate creativity & innovation in your business as you evolve your products or services to serve new markets;
- Enhance your company brand & market positioning;
- Enhance resilience and reduce the risk to your business by over reliance on one market;
Register for an export focused event:
Export Health Check
To take the next step in your exporting journey, complete our Export Health Check.
Complete our Export Health Check to assess your existing exporting capability. By answering a few short questions we will provide a tailored guide that will give you the tools to develop your own bespoke export strategy.
Available support
There is lots of support available to help you secure sales outside Northern Ireland.
Market research
Our Business Information Centre can provide free market and sector research reports and the Department of International Trade provides free Market Guides for UK businesses that are interested in selling overseas.
nibusinessinfo.co.uk
The nibusinessinfo.co.uk website provides detailed information and guides on selling outside Northern Ireland, both to neighbouring markets and further afield. These free guides cover topics such as choosing a market, procedures and licences and moving goods.
There are also resources to help businesses find funding and business-related training, workshops, networking, seminars and more from a range of stakeholders including councils, central government and the private sector to help you begin exporting.
International support and trade events
Invest Northern Ireland can provide hands-on support and mentoring for businesses wanting to sell outside Northern Ireland. We can support companies to participate in international trade events and our in-market teams can provide valuable insights and support to help you succeed in markets outside Northern Ireland.
Invest Northern Ireland may be subject to some eligibility criteria
The UK Export Academy
Delivered by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) the UK Export Academy is a free training programme, open to businesses that has a product or service that can be sold internationally and provides businesses with the expert know-how to sell to customers around the world.
Register for upcoming events.