Export trade fell by 10 per cent in September and by 1 per cent in October of this year, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
This caused the trade surplus to shrink by 7 per cent to €2.17 billion.
Seasonally adjusted merchandise trade for September, relative to the previous month, shows exports decreased by 10 per cent to €6,644 million and imports decreased by 1 per cent to €4,309 million.
Trade figures for October, relative to September, show exports decreased by 1 per cent to €6,560 million while imports increased by 2 per cent to €4,390 million.
The unadjusted merchandise trade for October values exports at €6,730 million, a decrease of 9 per cent on the year, and imports at €4,340 million, an increase of 3 per cent over the same period.
September trade shows exports at €7,218 million, a decrease of €415 million on the year, and imports at €4,154 million, up €114 million or 3 per cent.
Comparing the aggregate January to September 2004 figures with the same period in 2003 shows exports. Medical and pharmaceutical products increased from €10,218m to €11,365 million or 11 per cent.
During the same period imports increased from €34,888 million to €36,458 million or 4 per cent.
Other transport equipment (including aviation) increased from €346 million to €1,071 million increased from €60,436 million to €62,535 million or by 3 per cent.