The seasonally adjusted trade surplus rose to €3.03 billion in August from €2.9 billion the previous month, according to preliminary Central Statistics Office figures today.
The CSO said the seasonally adjusted value of Irish exports rose 6% month on month to €7.38 billion in August, with imports up 7% to €4.35 billion.
Final figures for July showed that exports climbed 3% to €6.973 billion, while imports fell 2% to €4.074 billion.
Cautiously welcoming today's CSO figures, the Minister for Trade and Commerce, Michael Ahern, said they demonstrate that Irish exports are holding their own in a very competitive international market.
'Given the relatively high level of the euro against the US dollar and the pound sterling, this is very encouraging', he said.
The US and the UK account for over 37% of Irish exports, with the US now firmly established as Ireland's largest export market.
