Euro set to boost Irish manufacturing plants in 2016

The sustained weakness of the euro looks set to boost Irish manufacturing again in 2016 even though there was some mixed news about the prospects for the UK — Ireland’s largest market.

The year-long slump in the euro against sterling and the dollar has provided a remarkable boost to even the smallest of Irish exporters because it makes selling into Britain and the US so cheap.

And the monthly Investec purchasing’ managers index published yesterday brought new hope the currency boost will continue to pay out for exporters, with new export orders having grown “substantially” in December’s survey.