Irish exports showed a monthly decline of 1% in June and imports fell by 2%, according to the latest data published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
This resulted in a trade surplus of €2.29 billion for the month, which was almost unchanged from €2.28 billion in May.
Compared to April 2007, exports in May fell by 3% and imports were up by 4%.
However, the CSO also said exports rose 6% between January and May compared to same period in the previous year, increasing from €35.7 billion to €37.8 billion.
Exports to the UK were up 11% in the five months to €5.9 billion and Irish exports to the US rose 7% to €7.2 billion in the first five months of 2007.
Exports to China and Hong Kong rose by 39% to €735m during the first five months of 2007.
A third of all exports from the State between January and May were chemicals or related products, with over €18.8 billion exported.
Food and live animals accounted for €2.9 billion in the five month period, and machinery and transport equipment accounted for €8.9 billion.
In the first five months of this year imports rose 5% to €26.4 billion, compared to last year, with imports from the US up 25% to €3.6 billion.
Imports from Great Britain rose 7% to €7.6 billion and imports from China and Hong Kong rose 6% to €1.9 billion.
