New figures show a slight fall in Irish exports to countries outside the EU in the year up to June 2004.
The Central Statistics Office figures indicate a fall in exports from €2,643 million to €2,615 million while imports increased from €1,413 million to €1,548 million.
On a year to date basis, exports decreased by 1 per cent from €16,141 million to €15,973 million and imports increased by 5 per cent from €8,983 million to €9,408 million.
There was a 25 per cent drop in exports of computers from €2,514 million to €1,881 million and chemical exports dropped by 10 per cent - from €5,053 million to €4,529 million.
Exports to the United States fell 2 per cent from €8,543 million to €8,370 million and exports to Mexico decreased 42 per cent from €343 million to €198 million.
An increase was recorded in exports to Hong Kong (37 per cent) and Japan increased (10 per cent).
Imports of transport equipment other than road vehicles (which includes aviation) increased from €176 million to €707 million while imports of general industrial machinery & equipment decreased 46 per cent from €240 million to €136 million.
Imports from China increased 44 per cent from €827 million to €1,195 million and the United States increased by 7 per cent from €3,301 million to €3,519 million while imports from Japan fell 15 per cent from €1,022 millon to €868 million.
The latest figures take account of the ten countries which became new members of the EU on the 1st of May this year and as a result, the data no longer includes trade with these countries from May 2004 onwards.