Manufacturing slide sees exports fall to €44.1bn

Irish exports fell 1% to €44.1bn over the first three months of the year, with a sharp contraction in the merchandise sector only partially offset by a robust performance by the services sector.

Merchandise exports shrank 9.8% over the quarter while service exports rose 8%. Service exports now account for 52% of all exports, according to figures released by the Irish Exporters Association.

Its chief executive John Whelan said: “Within the merchandise exports, the manufacturing sector was most severely impacted, falling by 11.5% as the intensification of the recession in the EU 27 countries affected all markets, including Germany.