The value of Irish exports decreased by 15 per cent to €7.09 billion in the year to March, according to figures released this morning by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
According to a seasonally adjusted month-on-month comparison the value of exports was down 5 per cent in March, compared with February.
Over the year the value of imports dropped 12 per cent €4.86 billion.
For the first two months of year, the value of exports of computer equipment declined by 15 per cent to €1.67 billion when compared with the same period in 2007.
Over the period exports of chemical products grew 63 per cent to €563 million while medical and pharmaceutical exports grew 8 per cent to €2.59 billion.
The seasonally-adjusted trade surplus in February was €2.225 billion, as against €2.04 billion in February and €1.65 billion in January.
Exports to the United States grew by 5 per cent for the first two months of the year to €2.8 billion, a rise of 5 per cent when compared with the same period in 2007.
Exports to China and Hong Cong grew by 60 per cent over the same period to €436 million.
