US firms are Ireland’s top exporters

The huge strengths of Ireland’s exporting base — which helped the country get through its worst ever economic crisis — were highlighted yesterday in the annual publication of the list of the top exporters on the island.

However, the Irish Exporters’ Association and Investec’s “Top 250 Exporters in Ireland and Northern Ireland” report again underlines a comparative weakness of indigenous companies.

Packaging company Smurfit Kappa — in eighth position — along with Tralee-based Kerry Group and Dundalk’s Total Produce — are the only Irish companies to secure a top 20 place in the league table of largest exporting firms here.