NEW CENTRAL STATISTICS Office figures show an increase of exports by €154 million or 2.2 per cent to €7 billion from January 2013.

Meanwhile, seasonally adjusted imports decreased by €69 million or -2 per cent to €3.8 billion.

This resulted in an 8 per cent trade surplus of €3.1 billion.

Comparing February this year with the same month last year, the value of exports decreased by 10 per cent to €6.6 billion. The main changes in the export market were decreases in the exports of medical and pharmaceutical products (-15 per cent) and organic chemicals (-18 per cent).

Overall, the EU accounted for 58 per cent of total exports and America was the main non-EU destination accounting for 22 per cent of all exports in February.

Imports

Comparing February this year with February last year, the value of imports decreased by 2 per cent, while imports of petroleum and related materials decreased by 21 per cent.

Two-thirds of imports in February came from the EU, with one-third coming from Great Britain, 9 per cent from the USA and 6 per cent from China.

Read: Cost of living in Ireland rises 0.4 per cent in March >

More: Irish exports at highest levels since 2002 >

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