The seasonally adjusted trade surplus fell to €2,480 million in June, the lowest so far this year, according to figures released today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The CSO said exports fell from €8,894 million to €6,874 million and imports from €5,059 million to €4,393 million. On an unadjusted basis, the value of exports in June 2002 was €7,597 million, down €1,404 million (-16%) on June 2001,while the value of imports was €4,086 million, down €419 million (-9%).
Initial indications for July 2002 show seasonally adjusted surplus €3,240 million with the value of exports increasing to €7,740 million (up 866 million)and imports increased to €4,500 million (up 107 million).
For the first six months of the year, exports increased four per cent from €46,826 million to €48,730 million with medical and pharmaceutical products up 78% and organic chemicals up 9 per cent.
Exports to Germany decreased from by 46 per cent while there were also significant decreases in respect of the Netherlands, France, Japan and the Philippines
