Improvement Seen In New Trade Figures

Report Shows E.U. Accounts For Almost A Third Of Irish Exports

Ireland's Central Statistics Office released the latest trade figures last week that showed that exports increased by 3% in December 2006 relative to November 2006, rebounding from the previous month.

The corresponding figures for imports indicate an increase of just 1% in December, relative to November.

Minister for Trade and Commerce, Mr. Michael Ahern, T.D., welcomed the overall trend of the figures for the eleven month period January-November 2006 which show that exports also increased by 3% overall when compared with the eleven month period January-November, 2005.

This was despite the fact that exports decreased on four occasions during the course of the year.

"For the past three years, since 2004, we have continued to make gains on our export position of the previous year and I am confident that when the final figures are published they will show that 2006 continues the upward trend," Minister Ahern said.

"This is a very good performance by Irish exporters in a difficult trading environment caused by the continuing global economic slowdown and rising oil prices," he added.

Exports to both the U.S. and Germany increased by 5% in the eleven months from January-November 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 while those to Belgium increased by 6%.

"These are important markets for us and it is heartening to see that the export trend in this area is positive," the Minister said.

The European Union continues to grow in importance as an export market, now accounting for almost 64% of all Irish exports.

Minister Ahern said he was particularly pleased that, in all almost all cases, exports to the new Member States were increasing, with Poland showing the largest increase worth €92 million.

The Czech and Slovak Republics were the next highest with increases in exports of 38% and 28%, respectively and, although starting from a low base, exports to Estonia rose by 60% to €22.2 million.

"This is a very welcome development," Minister Ahern continued.

"There are huge opportunities for Irish exporters in these newly developing markets and I would expect that over time Irish exporters will establish a substantial presence in the region."