Ireland's seasonally adjusted trade surplus fell 11.5 per cent in September to €2.66 billion from the previous month, the Central Statistics Office said today.
The seasonally adjusted value of Irish exports in September fell by 5 per cent to €7.32 billion
from August, while the value of imports eased to €4.66 billion from €4.67 billion.
Between January and August exports rose 2 per cent to €56.77 billion over the same period of 2004, with overseas sales of organic chemicals up 9 per cent, and petroleum and related materials 60 per cent higher.
Telecoms and sound equipment fell 17 per cent.
Imports in the first eight months were up 8 per cent to €35.53 billion, with computer equipment up 11 per cent, petroleum and related materials 39 per cent higher, and road vehicles up 18 per cent.
Electrical machinery imports decreased by 9 per cent.