Irish exports rose by 2% in 2006 compared with a 13.7% rise in German exports

Irish
Irish exports rose by 2% in 2006 compared with a 13.7% rise in German exports
By Finfacts Team
Mar 26, 2007, 12:58

Printer-friendly page from Finfacts Ireland Business News - Click for the News Main Page - A service of the Finfacts Ireland Business and Finance Portal

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%).