The level of goods traded across the Irish border is at an all-time high, officials said.

It stands at £6.1 billion for 2017, an all-island organisation established after the Good Friday Agreement added.

Northern Ireland makes up between 10-12% of total exports from Ireland to the UK and accounts for 7-8% of imports.

Aidan Gough, director of strategy at InterTradeIreland, said total cross-border trade in goods was at an “all-time high”.

“For a population size of just 2.9% of the UK total these trade figures with our nearest neighbour are substantial and highlight growing cross-border co-operation and the associated dividends for Northern Ireland businesses.”

Total cross-border trade in goods has been growing at an average rate of 4% a year over the past 20 years, the north/south body said.

It has assisted more than 39,000 businesses, created/protected 14,800 jobs and generated more than £1 billion in business development value through its programmes and initiatives since it was established 20 years ago.

Based in Newry in Co Down, it provides SMEs across the island of Ireland with sales growth, innovation, business funding and business insight support.

Mr Gough added: “The micro-economic impact that InterTradeIreland has had through its programmes and initiatives over the last 20 years is significant.

“It has provided assistance and guidance to over 39,000 companies, with 9,000 companies benefiting through trade and innovation projects, generating over £1 billion of additional business development value and 14,800 jobs.

“At a more macroeconomic level, total cross-border trade in goods has been growing since 1997 at an average rate of 4% per annum and currently stands at £6.11 billion for 2017.

“The benefits to firms involved in this trade are more pervasive than you may think.”

Northern Ireland exports to Ireland were worth some £3.9bn to the local economy in 2017, with 758,000 cross-border deliveries.

In addition, there were approximately 410,000 import deliveries in 2015 from Ireland to Northern Ireland businesses worth nearly £2bn, not including financial and farm sectors.

Mr Gough added: “These figures represent important components of Northern Ireland’s private sector economic activity and for Northern Ireland goods trade represent a 115% increase in sales value since 1997.

“For over half (51%) of Irish exporters, Northern Ireland is the destination for more than 50% of their exports, while for 26% of Irish firms, Northern Ireland is their only export market.”