Exports and imports with non-EU states fell in October compared with the same month last year, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) said yesterday. Economists said the figures reflected the downturn but some said there were grounds for slight optimism that the attacks on the US on September 11th would not have as significant an impact as feared. Indeed, the value of exports and imports in October increased marginally over the September figures.

When seasonally adjusted, the CSO figures showed non-EU imports were worth £1.25 billion (€1.59 billion) in October and exports were worth £2.39 billion. Comparable statistics for September showed imports worth £1.12 billion and exports of £2.15 billion. Year-on-year, the imports fell by 2 per cent when compared with October last year and exports fell 9 per cent.