Provisional figures show slight increases in the value of exports and imports in September compared with August.
The Central Statistics Office said exports in September - when adjusted for seasonal factors - were worth €7.8 billion, up 2% from the previous month, while imports edged up 1% to €3.9 billion.
Compared with September last year, unadjusted exports were up 4%, while imports were up 7%.
Detailed figures for the first eight months of this year show that exports were €58.2 billion, up 2% compared with the same period last year, with an 11% increase in exports of medical and pharmaceutical products. Exports to the US, Belgium and Britain accounted for just over half of the total value of exports.
Imports for the eight-month period were down 2% to €29.8 billion, with imports of computer equipment falling 28%, but imports of road vehicles jumping by 68%. Imports from the US were down 15%, while imports from China dropped 10%.
