Seasonally adjusted figures for September show a trade surplus of €3,189m, compared with €2,754 in August.
According to the Central Statistics Office, exports were 6% higher than in August at €7,243 while imports were flat at €4,054.
Preliminary seasonally adjusted figures for October show exports of €6,990 and imports of €3,840.
For the first nine months of the year, exports are running 16% behind the same period in 2002, while imports are 19% lower.
Separate CSO figures show a deficit on the current account of the balance of payments of €1,744m for the first nine months of this year, after a €316m deficit in the third quarter.
