Exports from Ireland in the first half of this year were worth €84.9bn, up 8% or €6bn compared with the same period last year, according to the Irish Exporters' Association.
The association said export growth was on track to reach its forecast of 9% growth for the whole of this year.
IEA chief executive John Whelan said the growth was achieved despite a series of international shocks in the first six months - including the disasters in Japan, unrest in the Middle East, high oil prices and the euro zone debt crisis.
Exports of goods recorded 7.4% growth in the first half, with agri-food exports surging by more than 14% due to strong sales in Europe and Asia. The chemical and pharmaceutical sector also showed strong growth.
Service exports were up 8.3%, led by an 11.4% increase in exports of computer services.
There were mixed performances across different export markets.
Exports to the US grew by 13.8%, but exports to the UK edged up by only 2%. Exports to Japan dropped 4%5, while there was an unexpected 1% fall in exports to China.
In Europe, France, Italy and Germany were strong markets for Irish exports, but exports to Spain and Greece fell sharply.
