Exports fell during September with seasonally adjusted figures showing a 9 per cent decrease compared with the previous month.
This puts imports for the month at €7,216 million.
Imports declined by 3 per cent to €5,064 million, leaving the economy with a surplus of €2,152 million for the month.
The slip follows a 4 per cent increase in exports in August, and a 6 per cent growth in imports, compare with the July 2006.
During the period for January to August 2006, exports rose 3 per cent from €57,084 million to €59,025 million, while imports increased 6 per cent to €39,232 million.
Ireland imported an increasing amount of goods from China, with imports rising 21 per cent to €2,739 million, while imports from Britain rose 6 per cent to €11,315 million.
However, imports from the United States actually fell during the eight-month period, to €4,515 million, while imports from Japan also fell.
Exports to the United States, on the other hand, grew 8 per cent to €11,663 million, while exports to Malaysia rose by 67 per cent.