Exports - adjusted for seasonal factors - increased by 2% to €7,918m in September, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office.
This compares to an increase of 10% in August. The July figure has been a decrease of 10% on the same period last year.
The CSO said the unadjusted value of exports in September was up 3% from the same month last year, to €8.11 billion.
Imports for September decreased by 5% to €3,805m, resulting in an 11% overall increase in the trade surplus to €4,113m.
The figures show that for the first eight months of 2011, the value of exports rose by 4% to €61,235.
There was an increase of 11% in the value of medical and pharmaceutical products exported, and a 9% rise in organic chemicals.
However, the value of computer equipment exported fell by 12% (€327m).
Geographically, exports to the USA increased by 8% or €1,091m, to France by 12% and Germany by 5%.
Over half (52%) of Ireland’s exports went to the USA, Belgium and Great Britain during the period January-August.
During the same period, the value of imports increased by 7% to €32,268m, with the value of petroleum increased by 27%, medical and pharmaceutical products by 20% and organic chemicals by 33%.
53% of imports came from Britain, the USA and Germany.
