Exports from the State rose by 3%, and imports rose 1% in December, compared to the previous month, according to estimates released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
In December preliminary exports came in at €7.38 billion and imports were €5.3 billion.
In contrast, following a significant pick-up in October, export levels dropped by 10% in November, the lowest level recorded since July 2005, and imports increased by 2%.
Comparing the January - November figures for 2006, to the same period in 2005, shows that exports increased by 3% to €81.4m, and imports rose 6% to €5.5bn.
The level of organic chemicals being exported in the January - November period increased by 5%, while exports of beverages jumped by 30% to €1.2 billion.
These strong performances were counteracted by the tailing off of exports of certain manufactured goods, such as textiles (down 29%) and scientific apparatus (down 19%).
Although the level of goods being exported to destinations such as Malaysia (up 73% to €880m), Belgium (up 6% to €13.3 billion) and the United States (up 5% to €15.1 billion) displayed big increases, exports to Switzerland, the Netherlands and Japan were lower.
Figures available for the January to November period showed the 6% increase in imports was driven mainly by increased levels of computer equipment (up 15% to €9.4 billion) being imported into the State. Imports of petrol and related materials, and medical & pharmaceutical products also rose.
In the January to November period imports from China rose by 19% to €4 billion, and from Great Britain were 5% higher at €16.1 billion. US and Hong Kong imports fell in the period.
