Uncertainty in global markets, energy and supply chain issues and skills shortages were among the top challenges cited by exporters ahead of Enterprise Ireland's International Markets Week.

As RTE News highlighted, 600 EI client companies are expected to take part in 1,800 export focused one-to-one engagements with Enterprise Ireland Market Advisors at the event which will happen in-person this year for the first time since 2019.

A survey of client companies in advance of the event found that 84% plan to enter new export markets over the next year with over 90% saying they expected to grow their exports, despite ongoing market uncertainty and concerns around as supply chains, energy costs and inflation.

Around three in five said their export sales had increased this year while around a third said they had remained stable.

For around two thirds of companies, growing their overseas market presence was their biggest priority for the year ahead.

Of those planning to enter new markets next year, one-third said North America was the priority destination for them in 2023, with 27% prioritising Europe and one-in-five citing the UK (see, EI's trade visit last year to Port of Liverpool /region). 

Click here for further reading on the trade and export story.