Jump in imports pushes trade surplus down by 4%

Ireland’s trade surplus fell by 4% last year, according to preliminary figures published yesterday by the CSO.

An increase in overall export value by 2% — or just over €2bn (to €89.1bn) — coupled with a 7% jump in the value of imports to €53.6bn (the highest value level in six years) resulted in the trade surplus slipping from almost €37bn in 2013, to just under €35.5bn.

This was despite December showing the largest monthly surplus since last August, with a near €2bn improvement on November, to a total of just over €2.2bn.