The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the State's trade surplus widened sharply in May, as exports rose and imports fell.
The CSO said the value of exports in May was €7.68 billion, up 8% from April's figure, while imports fell 14% to €3.62 billion.
Detailed figures for the first four months of 2010 show, however, that exports were down 6% on the same period last year at just over €28 billion. There was a 20% fall in chemical exports and a 42% drop in computer equipment exports, but medical and pharmaceutical products were up 9%. Exports of goods to Britain fell 11% from a year earlier to €477m, hit by sterling's weakness.
Imports also fell 6%, to €15.2 billion, in the first four months of this year, with a 53% drop in imports of computer equipment. But the value of petrol imports was up 28%, while imports of road vehicles jumped by 46% as car sales picked up.
