March 15, 2026 — Belfast Northern Ireland’s services exports grew more than twice as fast as goods exports in 2024, with goods sales up 5.3% while services sales increased at over double that rate, according to a BBC News article published yesterday. The business services and finance sector output has surged 32% since the pandemic, outpacing the overall economy’s 12% growth and manufacturing’s 7%, prompting the question: Why are exports of Northern Ireland services growing twice as fast as the economy?
Services now account for nearly 39% of Northern Ireland’s external sales in 2024, up from under 34% in 2023, per the Northern Ireland Economic Trade Statistics 2024.
Robust Growth in Key Sectors
Ulster University economist Esmond Birnie noted the shift:
We are becoming more and more of a service sector economy. During 2024 total sales of goods grew by 5.3% but sales of services grew at more than twice that rate.
The boom spans professional services like accountancy, law, and consultancy, alongside IT and finance. Multinationals such as Bank of America, which recently hired 70 staff for a planned 1,000-person Belfast operation, and Citi, a major employer since setting up 20 years ago, drive exports through back-office work for overseas headquarters.
Why are exports of Northern Ireland services growing twice as fast as the economy? Demand from the Republic of Ireland plays a key role, fueled by its €275 billion 10-year infrastructure plan and renewables sector.
Expert Insights on Market Opportunities
Stuart Anderson, Director of International Relations at the NI Chamber of Commerce, highlighted cross-border work:
It’s been the case for some time that Northern Ireland professional services have been operating in the southern market because they typically get a higher hourly rate… So whether it’s legal services, accounting services, or construction and engineering services, you can see an awful lot of work being done in the south because, one, there’s a clear pipeline, but two, there is also a higher rate of return for the services.
Services exports include four modes: fully remote delivery, in-person provision abroad, foreign investment via overseas offices, and consumers traveling to Northern Ireland, such as for tourism.
Official Data and Amplification
The figures stem from the NISRA International Trade in Services survey. BBC Economics Editor John Campbell posted: “Service sector exports from NI have surged. Services accounted for almost 40% of external sales in 2024.”
BBC News NI shared the story, which was republished on AOL. A related YouTube video features Anderson discussing the trend.
Why are exports of Northern Ireland services growing twice as fast as the economy? Investments and regional demand underscore Northern Ireland’s rising role in UK services exports, per contextual NI Assembly reports.