Trade with countries outside the European Union fell marginally last year, despite a sharp rise in imports from China.

Overall, exports to non-EU states fell 0.2 per cent to €31.65 billion, while imports were 0.5 per cent behind the 2003 figure at €18.4 million. Despite the decline, Ireland's trade surplus with non-EU states rose 0.2 per cent to €13.23 billion.

Even ahead of the recent trade mission to China, the country had significantly increased its importance to Ireland in trade terms. Imports from China rose 30 per cent last year to €2.59 billion, further widening what is the State's largest trade deficit. Exports to China last year totalled just €639.2 million, just over 9 per cent up on 2003.

Imports from Taiwan also climbed sharply, up 21 per cent to €914 million.

Business with Ireland's largest non-EU trade partner, the United States, was down. Imports fell 6 per cent to €6.57 billion, while exports to the US were also down on the previous year, 3 per cent weaker on €16.51 billion.

The State's trade surplus with Japan grew as exports recorded an 11 per cent growth to €2.3 billion while imports fell 10 per cent to €1.78 billion.

Exports of computers and organic chemicals fell while medical and scientific instruments and drugs rose. Imports of electrical machinery were down.