The CSO reported today that seasonally adjusted trade shows exports increased from 6,818m to 7,983m (+17%) for May 2006 while imports increased from 4,556m to 4,822m (+6%) relative to the preceding month of April 2006.
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| One month's figures are not a reliable trend indicator. For example, there was a double digit fall in April and a double digit rise in May Source CSO |
The April 2006 trade in turn shows exports decreased from 7,551m in March to 6,818m (-10%) and imports decreased from 5,215m to 4,556m (-13%).
On an unadjusted basis, the value of exports in May 2006 was 8,132m, up 832m (+11%) on May 2005, while the value of imports was 4,981m, up 334m (+7%). The value of exports in April 2006 was 6,844m, down 876m (-11%) on April 2005 and the value of imports was 4,657m, down 464m (-9%).
Comparing the January-April 2006 figures with the January-April 2005 shows:
Exports increased from 28,792m to 29,170m (+1%)
- Medical and pharmaceutical products increased from 5,248m to 5,627m (+7%), Computer equipment increased from 4,279m to 4,466m (+4%) and Electrical machinery and parts increased from 1,818m to 1,929m (+6%). Organic chemicals decreased from 5,689m to 4,971m (-13%).
- Goods to Luxembourg increased from 50m to 352m, to Germany
from 2,071m to 2,270m (+10%) and to Belgium from 4,258m to 4,430m (+4%). Goods to Switzerland decreased from 1,221m to 701m (-43%) and to Italy from 1,228m to 1,021m (-17%).
Imports increased from 18,895m to 20,022m (+6%)
- Computer equipment increased from 2,666m to 3,239m (+21%), Petroleum and related products from 909m to 1,203m (+32%) and Road vehicles from 1,661m to 1,779m (+7%). Other transport equipment (including aircraft) decreased from 888m to 447m (-50%).
- Goods from China increased from 1,010m to 1,349m (+33%),
Singapore from 239 to 550 (+130%), Great Britain from 5,302m to 5,576m (+5%) and Norway from 391m to 610m (+56%). Goods from the United States decreased from 2,825m to 2,409m (-15%) and Japan from 802m to 697m (-13%).
