Bad year but exports recovering

A STRONG performance from the life science industry failed to provide any meaningful boost for the €154 billion export sector which had one of its worst years in 2009.

Export recovery is expected to continue this year but, according to the Irish Exporter Association (IEA), it will be a jobless recovery with return-to-job growth not expected until 2011.

On the bright side, exports to the US grew by 12% last year driven by the recession-proof pharmaceutical, medical devices and chemical sector.