Preliminary figures from the Central Statistics Office show that imports rose by 12% in December from November.
Imports were €4,470m, while exports in the month fell 2% to just over €7 billion.
For the first 11 months of the year, exports were 2% ahead of the same period in 2003, with medical and pharmaceutical exports up 11%. Exports to Belgium were up 20% in the first 11 months of 2004, while Japan showed a 12% rise.
Imports were up 4% from January to November 2004. Imports of other transport equipment - a category which includes aviation - more than doubled to €1,256m, while imports of petrol products were up 28%.
Imports from China were ahead 29%, while imports from France were up 19%.
