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| Source: CSO |
The CSO reported today that exports of merchandise
trade for the year 2006 were 88,704m, up 2% on 2005. The rise was mainly due to
Organic chemicals and Metalliferous ores .
By comparison, Germany exported goods worth
893.6 billion , a 13.7% increase from 2005, De Statis, the German Federal
Statistics Office said in early February.
In 2006, the global economy was in the fourth year of
the highest sustained economic growth, since the late 1960's.
Also in 2006, foreign-owned firms were responsible
for 92% of Irish exports.
Imports for 2006 were 60,398m, up 5%on 2005. This
increase was principally due to Computer equipment.
In December 2006 the value of exports was 7,248m,
down 147m (-2%) on December 2005, while imports were 5,281m, down 254m (-5%).
On a seasonally adjusted basis the value of exports in December 2006 was
7,347m, 3% up on November 2006, while imports were 5,216m.
Preliminary estimates for January 2007 show exports
of 7,374m and imports of 5,600m. The corresponding seasonally adjusted values
for January 2007 are 7,769m for exports and 5,462m for imports.
Comparing the 2006 figures with
those of 2005 shows that:
Exports of Organic
chemicals increased from 17,757m to 18,529m (+4%), Metalliferous ores from
609m to 1,015m (+67%) and Beverages (principally C&C's Magners Cider to
the UK) increased from 1,014m to 1,297m (+28%).
- Exports of Professional, scientific &
controlling apparatus decreased from 2,703m to 2,241m (-17%).
- Exports of goods to the United States increased from
15,475m to 16,219m (+5%) and to Belgium from 13,540m to 14,201m
(+5%).
- Goods to Malaysia increased from 555m to 953m
(+72%).
- Goods to Switzerland decreased from 3,206m to
2,514m (-22%) and to France from 5,713m to 5,050m (-12%).
Imports of Computer
equipment increased from 9,195m to 10,396m (+13%) and Petroleum and related
materials from 3,315m to 3,718m (+12%). Medical & pharmaceutical products
increased from 1,995m to 2,220m (+11%),Road vehicles increased from 3,797m to
4,059m (+7%).
- Other transport equipment decreased from 2,036m to
1,368m (-33%).
- Imports of goods from Great Britain increased from
16,995m to 17,843m (+5%), China from 3,757m to 4,433m (+18%), Singapore from
845m to 1,253m (+48%) and Norway from 1,507m to 1,856m (+23%).
- Goods from the United States decreased from 8,000m
to 6,799m (-15%) and Japan from 2,105m to 1,735m (-18%).
RELATED
European
Innovation Scoreboard : Irish high-tech exports have fallen from 39% of total
exports in 1999 to 29% in 2004
