The volume of trade fell in May following a sharp rise in April, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The preliminary figures showed Irish exports decreased by 3 per cent to €7,358 million, and imports decreased by 9 per cent to €4,340 million.
The CSO said the April trade had been particularly high, with exports increasing by 12 per cent
to €7,614 million and imports increasing by 14 per cent to €4,750 million relative to March - which was unusually low for both flows.
Exports decreased slightly from €28,265 million to €28,195 million for the first four months of 2005 when compared with the same period in 2004.
Computer equipment decreased from €4,467million to €4,216 million - a fall of 6 per cent; organic chemicals decreased from €5,724 million to €5,613 million, a fall of 2 per cent; and telecommunications and sound equipment fell from €473 million to €356 million - a drop of 25 per cent.
Medical and pharmaceutical products increased from €4,833 million to €5,249 million, a rise of 9 per cent.
Imports during the same period increased from €16,636 million to €18,040 million - a rise of 8 per cent.
Road vehicles increased from €1,323 million to €1,629 million, a rise of 23 per cent. Goods from Great Britain increased from €4,542 million to €4,952 million, a rise of 9 per cent.