Trade surplus up 32% to €4.3bn

Ireland’s seasonally adjusted trade surplus soared by 32% to just under €4.3bn in November — the third consecutive month where a rise was evident and the biggest increase since last August.

November’s surplus grew by more than €1bn to just over €4.28bn, on the back of a 7%, or €552m, rise in export value, coupled with an 11% drop in imports. The figures were outlined yesterday in new preliminary CSO data.

The latest surplus figure is the highest since August’s €4.88bn tally, which came on the back of a record monthly export performance, but also preceded a €2bn drop in surplus in September. However, the figure has been on the rise in each of the months since then.