Irish exports increased by 9 per cent in October, while imports increased by 1 per cent, figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show.
Relative to August 2007, exports in September fell by 5 per cent, while imports decreased by 1 per cent.
On an unadjusted basis, the value of exports in October was €7.7 billion, up 1 per cent on October 2006, while the value of imports was €5.4 billion, no change.
The value of exports in September was €7.2 billion, down 3 per cent on September 2006, while the value of imports was €4.6 billion, down 5 per cent.
Exports increased from €64.403 billion to €66.972 billion or by 4 per cent from January to September compared with the same period last year.
Imports increased from €44.475 billion to €45.547 billion or by 2 per cent during the same period.
Separate figures show that in 2006, service exports to the United States accounted for €8.3 billion (twice the €4.1 billion in 2005) or 15 per cent of total service exports of €55.05 billion.
European exports of €33.4 billion accounted for a further 60 per cent of service exports, the United Kingdom
€9.6 billion, with significant amounts for Germany, €5.7 billion; France, €3.01 billion; and Italy, €2.6 billion.