Preliminary figures from the Central Statistics Office show that exports fell back in June after a sharp rise in May.
The value of exports came to €7.1 billion, down 4% from May, while imports were up 1% to just under €5 billion. The figures are adjusted to take seasonal variations into account.
For the first five months of 2008, exports are 3% lower compared with the same period last year, mainly due to a 25% drop in exports of computer equipment and a 10% fall in chemical exports. Exports to the US are down 4% so far in 2008, but there is strong growth in Asian markets, with China up 39% and Malaysia 92% ahead.
Imports are 6% lower compared with the first five months of last year, though the value of petrol imports is up 32%.
Separate CSO figures showed that factory gate prices fell by 0.8% in July from the previous month, bringing the annual fall to 2.6%. Factory gate data measure the price of goods before they reach consumers.
Chemicals prices fell by 1.6% in the month, while prices for office machinery and computers were 1.8% lower. Metals prices jumped by 12.6%, however. Prices of energy products were up 1.4% in the month, with petrol fuels 4.2% higher.
