Ireland's exports to non-EU countries decreased by 18 per cent in May, according to figures released today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The CSO said on a seasonally adjusted basis, Ireland's exports to non-EU countries decreased to €2,386 million in May 2004 from the April 2004 figure of €2,924 million.
In the same period imports fell from €1,790 million to €1,560 million, due primarily to a decrease in transport equipment.
The unadjusted exports were valued at €2,383 million in May 2004, 1 per cent lower than the €2,653 million recorded in May 2003, while imports increased by 4 per cent from €1,495 million to €1,555 million in the same period.
Comparing the first five months of 2004 to the same period last year, figures show exports decreased from €13,538 million to €13,378 millon, a fall of 1 per cent.
Exports of computers decreased by 25 per cent from €2,014 million to €1,507 million while organic chemicals decreased from €4,324 million to €3,999 million, a fall of 8 per cent.
Exports to Mexico decreased from €286 million to €151 million, a fall of 47 per cent while exports to Norway decreased from €267 million to €198 million, a 26 per cent drop. Exports to Hong Kong and Singapore increased by 34 per cent and 23 per cent respectively.
Imports increased from €7,557 million to €7,848 million, an increase of 4 per cent. Imports of transport equipment other than road vehicles (which includes aviation) increased from €125 million to €615 million, while imports of general industrial machinery and equipment decreased from €195 million to €112 million.
Imports from China rose by 48 per cent, from €693 million to €1,026 million, and from the United States increased from €2,738 million to €2,912 million, a 6 per cent rise while imports from Japan decreased by 13 per cent from €845 million to €733 million.