Exports fell back slightly in September to £3.85 billion from a peak of just over £4 billion in July, on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Unadjusted merchandise exports were valued at £4.18 billion in September and imports at £2.52 billion, giving a monthly trade surplus of £1.66 billion, according to figures released yesterday by the Central Statistics Office.

However, for the fourth month in a row the adjusted surplus was very strong at over £1.3 billion.

Initial indications for October show imports rising to £2.68 billion and exports falling to £3.84 billion, leading to a surplus of £1.16 billion

The main contributor to increased exports were organic chemicals up 85 per cent. Exports of dairy products fell 4 per cent.