Exporters confident of trade hike

Irish exporters are confident exports will increase next year despite concerns about their ability to get credit and the health of Ireland’s main trading partners.

The Irish Exporters Association (IEA) Survey and International Trade Finance Review 2012 found 58% of firms reported increased exports in 2012 and 77% of those surveyed think exports will increase in 2013.

IEA chief executive John Whelan said the results were encouraging, but the big cost of doing business was still dragging exporters down.