Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Dublin Port, photographed earlier this year. Julien Behal/PA Archive/Press Association Images
Optimism

Euro rates boost Irish exports

Irish Exporters’ Association says exports for the third quarter were up almost 10% on last year’s figures.

NEW FIGURES SHOW A STRONG increase in Irish exports, aided by a weak euro.

Irish goods and services experted between July and September of 2010 came to €40.4bn, a 9.3% increase on the same period of last year, according to the Irish Exporters’ Association.

RTÉ reports that the IEA’s CEO John Whelan said goods exported were up 12.8% to €22.9bn, while services were up 4.9% for the quarter.

Whelan said Irish exports were boosted by a favourable euro rate. Manufactured goods exported to the US were worth 32% more in the third quarter of this year, the Irish Times reports.

Exports to the UK rose at an annual rate of 4%, but Whelan warns that a weaker sterling this month could reverse the gains made in Q3.

Medical devices exports rose by 38%, while chemicals and pharmaceuticals rose 22%, according to RTÉ.

However, the IEA said that exports to Brazil, Russia, India and China rose at an annual rate of 2% in Q3. As these countries have been growing rapidly in 2009 and 2010, the growth of Irish exports to them “must be seen as below potential and indicate a loss of market share”, it said.