Ahern Expresses Satisification With Newly- Released Irish Trade Figures

Minister for Trade and Commerce, Mr. Michael Ahern, T.D., today expressed his satisfaction with the latest trade statistics released on Monday by the Central Statistics Office. The latest figures show that exports for 2006 increased by 2% over the course of the year, and provisional figures for the first month of this year also indicate an encouraging 2% rise compared to the same month in 2006. The corresponding figures for imports indicate an increase of 5% for 2006 over the previous year.

Speaking from Zagreb, where he led an Enterprise Ireland Trade Mission, Minister Ahern said "For the past three years, since 2004, we have continued to make gains on our export position of the previous year and am pleased to note that this upward trend has continued.

"These figures indicate a very good performance by Irish exporters in a difficult trading environment caused by the continuing global economic slowdown and rising oil prices," he continued.

"The performance off the Merchandise sector and the recently released news of a 9% rise in the export of Services for 2005, over the previous year, represent a heartening overall performance for Irish Trade."

Mr Ahern seemed particularly pleased to note that Exports of goods to the US were up 5%, Australia up 10%, and Malaysia up by 72%, the latter being one of the priority markets identified in the Government's Asia Strategy.

The EU 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 at +38%, while trade with the older members, was being maintained, with Spain being a highlight showing an impressive 9% increase on the previous year.