Minister McGuinness welcomes latest trade figures

The Minister for Trade and Commerce, Mr John McGuinness, today welcomed the latest trade figures released by the Central Statistics Office.

The figures show that the value of merchandise exports in July 2007, at €7,401 million was up 5% on July 2006, while the level of imports rose by 4%.

The Minister said, “the figures are indeed encouraging and represent an impressive performance by exporters”. Commenting on our performance for the period January to July 2007, the Minister went on to say “it is pleasing to note that in the first seven months of this year, compared to the same period last year, our exports rose from €50,106 million to €52,966 million an increase of 6%”. First estimates for August 2007 show exports down 1% on the same month last year, while the value of imports was down 3%.

The Minister was particularly pleased to note that during this period, while exports to our traditional trading partner Great Britain increased by 10% from €7,757 million to €8,511 million, goods to Switzerland increased from €1,409 million to €1,859 million, up 32%, with exports to Belgium up 7% to €7,617 million. Significantly exports to China and Hong Kong showed a rise of 34% from €778 million to €1,045 million. Exports to the Philippines rose to €527 million up from €203 million, an increase of 159%.

Exports of organic chemicals increased from €9,690 million to €12,248 million, up 26%, general industrial machinery rose from €696 million to €854 million, an increase of 23%. Beverages rose from €603 million to €728 million representing an increase of 21%, while eggs and dairy products increased by 20% from €666 million to €799 million.

ENDS/TC301