Exports to Britain down by over 10%

IRELAND’S trade surplus continued to rise, but exports to its nearest trading neighbour Britain have fallen by over 10% since the beginning of 2009.

The latest set of external trade figures from the CSO published yesterday and covering January and initial findings for February, showed a mixed bag. On the one hand, the trade surplus rose to just under €3.7 billion in February — up from €3.4bn in January and €2.9bn in December.

The final figures for January even represented a seven-year high for our trade surplus. February figures suggested overall export levels rose, on a year-on-year basis, by 6% and imports, by the same measure, jumped by 4%.