Enterprise Ireland says Irish companies had a steady performance this year in difficult market conditions.
The agency's end of year statement says gains and losses in export sales will be broadly in line with last year, with new export sales of around €1 billion.
Enterprise Ireland said the important US and European markets were flat this year, while the strong euro, higher costs and uncertainty in the technology sector also hit export markets.
Overall employment in companies backed by the agency fell by 3,200, an improvement on 2002, though it added that 8,200 new jobs had been created.
60 new high export growth companies were set up this year, while Enterprise Ireland made investments in 132 companies.
The agency said Ireland's future economic prosperity would be linked to the ability of companies to outperform international competitors as the world economy improved.
