Seasonally adjusted trade for November shows exports increased by 8 per cent to €7,170 million while imports decreased by 12 per cent to €3,960 million.
When comparing October to September, figures show exports decreased slightly to €6,609 million; imports increased by 4 per cent to €4,480 million.
The unadjusted merchandise trade for November gives exports of €7,330 million, a slight increase on November of the previous year, and imports of €4,400 million, a slight decrease over the same period.
Overall exports between January and October increased by 2 per cent from €67,859 million to €69,358 million while imports increased by 5 per cent from €39,100 million to €40,965 million.
The sectors showing the biggest rises were medical and pharmaceutical products (up 10 per cent); professional, scientific and controlling apparatus (up 19 per cent); and essential oils and cleaning preparations (up 13 per cent).
Exports of computer equipment fell 9 per cent.
Export trade with Belgium and Japan showed the largest increases in the 10 months to October 2004, rising 23 per cent and 14 per cent respectively, while export trade with Germany and The Netherlands fell most.
Import trade in the year to October 2004 increased 5 per cent to €4 0,965 million, with other transport equipment, organic chemicals and petrol registering the largest increases.