Exports grew by €53m in April

Exports increased in April compared with the previous month but the trade surplus narrowed on the back of increased imports, according to latest figures released by the CSO.

Exports for April grew by €53m, a 1% increase on March, to reach €7.383bn at the end of the month. Seasonally adjusted imports for the same period increased by €169m, a 4% jump, to reach €3.956bn.

This translated into a 3% decrease in the seasonally adjusted trade surplus to €3.427bn for the month. Comparing Apr 2013 with Apr 2012, the value of exports increased by €433m, or 6% to €7.506bn.