New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that Irish exports of goods increased by 8% or €10.3 billion to €143.1 billion in the first eight months of this year, while imports decreased by nearly €4 billion, or 4%, to €87.4 billion.
The CSO said that unadjusted exports rose by €1.2 billion to €17.3 billion in August compared with the same time last year.
When seasonally adjusted, exports of goods grew by €328m when compared with July, the CSO added.
Meanwhile, the unadjusted imports for August were valued at €11.2 billion, up over €850m on August last year.
Seasonally adjusted imports came to €12.3 billion in August, the CSO added.
It noted that exports of Chemicals & Related Products increased by €6 billion in the first eight months of the year and accounted for almost two-thirds of all of the country's exports.
Today's figures show that exports to Great Britain fell by 6% to €1.209 billion - making up 7% of total exports in August - when compared with August of last year.
The products which accounted for the largest share of exports were Food & Live Animals at €326m and Machinery & Transport Equipment at €309m.
And imports from Great Britain in August reached €1.493 billionn, which was 13% of the total value of imports. Imports of Mineral Fuels, Lubricants & Related Materials were valued at €441m and imports of Machinery & Transport Equipment accounted for €228m.
They also reveal that the EU accounted for €6.11 billion (35%) of total goods exports in August, of which €1.522 billion went to Germany, €1.466 billion went to Belgium, and €1.378 billion went to the Netherlands.
The US was the main non-EU destination accounting for €6.660 billion or 38% of total exports in August.
