Ireland 's imports from non-EU countries were €1,455m in May 2003,12 per cent lower than the April value of €1,647m, according to seasonally adjusted figures released by the Central Statistics Office this morning.
Exports decreased by 3 per cent from €2,794m to €2,724m in the same period.
The unadjusted imports were valued at €1,479m in May 2003,10 per cent lower than the €1,642m recorded in May 2002,while exports were valued at €2,666m, 21 per cent lower than the €3,359m recorded in the same period.
Comparing January-May 2003 with the corresponding period in 2002:
- imports decreased from €8,502m to €7,599m (-11 per cent).Imports of transport equipment other than road vehicles, which includes aviation, decreased from €826m to €124m (-85 per cent)and imports of telecommunications & sound equipment decreased from €425m to €220m (-48 per cent).
- imports of computers increased from €1,915m to €2,090m (+9 per cent).
- imports from the USA decreased from €3,917m to €2,743m (-30 per cent) and imports from Taiwan decreased from €388m to €315m (-19 per cent). Imports from China increased from €414m to €693m (+68 per cent).
- exports decreased from €14,585m to €13,614m (-7 per cent).Exports of computers decreased from €2,442m to €2,012m (-18 per cent)and exports of organic chemicals decreased from €4,787m to €4,400m (-8per cent).
- exports of essential oils (including those used in the food and drink industries)increased from €368m to €669m (+82 per cent).
- exports to Japan decreased from 1,159m to 839m (-28 per cent),exports to the USA decreased from €7,357m to €7,219m (-2 per cent)while exports to Mexico increased from €198m to €291m (+47 per cent).
In the case of imports, these refer to goods which are imported directly from non-EU countries.
They exclude goods which originate in non-EU countries and are subsequently consigned from within the EU.