Back to Top

 Skip navigation

Extra information
Methodology Previous Releases
International comparison:
Eurostat
For more information on this release:
E-mail: Trade@cso.ie Norita Murphy +353 1 4984295 Damian Malone +353 1 4984206
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-5155
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Goods Exports and Imports

March 2014

Seasonally adjusted
€ million
 ExportsImportsSurplus
October 20137,3424,3722,970
November 20136,9774,4892,489
December 20137,6964,2853,410
January 20147,1754,0913,083
February 20147,2294,0613,168
March 20146,9734,5372,436

Lowest seasonally adjusted trade surplus since July 2008

Goods Exports and Imports seasonally adjusted
go to full release

Preliminary figures for March 2014 indicate a decrease in seasonally adjusted exports of €256 million (-4%) to €6,973 million from February 2014. Coupled with an increase in seasonally adjusted imports of €476 million (+12%) to €4,537 million, the seasonally adjusted trade surplus decreased by €732 million (-23%) to €2,436 million (see Table 2).  This is the lowest seasonally adjusted trade surplus since July 2008.

Comparing March 2014 with March 2013, the value of exports decreased by €524 million (-6%) to €7,562 million. The main drivers were decreases of €339 million (-16%) in the exports of Organic chemicals and €196 million (-10%) in Medical and pharmaceutical products.

On an overall basis the EU accounted for €4,247 million (56%) of total exports in March 2014. The USA was the main non-EU destination accounting for 24% (€1,847 million) of total exports in March 2014.

Comparing March 2014 with March 2013, the value of imports rose by €674 million (+16%) to €4,812 million. Imports of Organic chemicals increased by €339 million (+176%) and Machinery and transport equipment by €258 million (+26%).

The EU accounted for 62% of the value of imports in March 2014, with 29% coming from Great Britain. The USA (9%) and Switzerland (9%) were the main non-EU sources of imports.

Table 1 Goods Exports and Imports summary analysis
PeriodValueVolume index1Unit value index1 
ExportsImportsTrade surplusBase year 1990=100
€m€m€mExportsImportsExportsImportsTerms of trade2
1990 18,20415,8322,372100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0
1991 19,07016,3172,753105.6100.899.3102.397.0
1992 21,26016,7544,506121.1105.696.6100.296.4
1993 25,17918,9006,279133.4113.0103.9105.498.6
1994 28,89121,9456,946153.2127.9103.8108.196.0
1995 35,33026,1819,149184.0146.3105.7112.793.7
1996 38,60928,47910,130202.2160.9105.1111.494.3
1997 44,86832,86312,004232.4184.8106.3112.094.9
1998 57,32239,71517,607289.2218.3109.1114.695.2
1999 66,95644,32722,629336.5236.5109.5118.092.8
200083,88955,90927,980401.4275.2115.0128.089.9
2001 92,69057,38435,306422.0274.2120.9131.891.7
2002 93,67555,62838,047435.1276.6118.5126.793.5
2003 82,07647,86534,212418.4259.7108.0116.193.0
2004 84,41051,10533,304446.5283.6104.0113.591.7
2005 86,73257,46529,267456.7316.3104.5114.491.3
2006 86,77260,85725,915458.0325.2104.4117.788.7
2007 89,22663,48625,741481.8340.9101.9117.386.9
2008 86,39457,58528,810484.5300.598.0119.781.9
2009 85,80445,06140,742468.4249.298.9113.986.8
2010 89,70345,76443,940485.5241.3101.2119.284.9
2011 91,22848,30242,925507.9240.899.7126.478.8
2012 91,68849,15142,538479.1231.9105.8133.779.2
201386,91549,91037,005..........
         
2012January7,6784,4663,212483.9251.4104.7134.278.0
 February7,4023,9573,445470.5224.9103.9133.078.1
March8,6284,9873,640548.1286.5103.9131.778.9
April7,0733,7413,332449.8210.5103.8134.377.3
May7,6314,0663,564479.3231.8105.2132.579.4
June8,0653,9804,085492.8225.1107.8133.081.0
July7,8083,7994,009482.2212.9107.1134.579.7
August8,3763,8654,511508.3214.6108.8135.780.1
September7,4644,2043,260465.4242.5106.8134.979.2
October7,4704,3283,142471.4245.6106.0134.378.9
November8,3174,0424,275524.5224.0105.2133.678.8
December5,7783,7172,061372.3211.5106.8132.280.8
20133January6,7294,4422,287419.9251.3105.8133.679.2
 February6,6193,9132,706424.1222.4103.1133.077.5
March8,0864,1383,948505.8237.1105.6131.980.1
April7,4734,2393,234462.8239.0106.6134.079.6
May7,2183,9493,268452.1228.4105.4130.780.7
June7,3414,0363,306463.1230.6104.7132.379.2
July7,6014,0213,580482.7225.1104.0135.077.0
August6,9723,9852,987439.9230.9104.7130.480.3
September7,3544,0373,318467.0227.3104.0134.277.5
October7,2964,4152,881468.5251.3102.8132.877.5
November7,6744,3933,281489.2251.7103.6131.978.6
December6,5534,3442,209417.0247.2103.8132.878.2
20143January6,9904,4982,492..........
 February6,7844,0602,724..........
 March47,5624,8122,749..........
1 Monthly data have been rescaled to make their average equal to the annual.   
2 Export unit value index divided by Import unit value index.
3 Revised, see background notes.
4 March 2014 is based on current Intrastat response levels, see background notes.
.. Indices are not yet available.
Table 2 Goods Exports and Imports seasonally adjusted1 series  
PeriodValueVolume index
ExportsImportsTrade surplusBase year 1990=100
€m€m€mExportsImports
2011January7,2894,4952,795485.9263.6
 February8,0514,3223,729535.5251.8
March7,6263,8203,806520.7222.1
April7,5774,9192,658495.4289.2
May7,5683,7243,844503.9227.2
June7,8403,8334,007537.2228.2
July7,0233,8053,217470.7228.9
August7,7843,9863,798524.5240.5
September7,7993,8273,973531.2231.9
October7,4613,8613,601501.9233.9
November8,0953,8064,289541.9219.5
December7,1134,1292,984488.7239.5
2012January8,3024,5063,796516.1253.4
 February7,2863,7303,557462.3214.8
March7,7394,6233,116498.5260.9
April7,0293,5843,445443.4202.3
May7,5284,1193,409472.2229.7
June7,4714,0123,459459.5228.3
July7,8334,0033,829485.9225.1
August9,1884,2154,973561.3232.0
September7,2994,4792,820457.5261.2
October7,4924,2163,276465.4238.1
November8,0333,8514,182498.6216.0
December6,5393,8012,738430.2218.5
2013January6,7913,9782,813423.4236.5
 February6,9763,8983,078444.0222.9
March7,4143,8063,609459.7217.4
April7,3514,0623,288457.4230.4
May7,0864,0273,060446.0230.0
June7,1314,2292,902453.3240.2
July7,3334,2453,088469.8234.8
August7,6624,4903,172485.7254.9
September7,3184,1143,204466.1233.6
October7,3424,3722,970464.2242.7
November6,9774,4892,489442.7256.6
December7,6964,2853,410490.2245.2
2014January7,1754,0913,083....
 February7,2294,0613,168....
 March6,9734,5372,436....
1 Based on seasonal patterns up to December 2013. Accordingly all values in this table may have been revised.
.. Indices are not yet available.
Table 3 Goods Exports and Imports classified by commodity1 
 €million
SITC (Rev 4)ExportsImports
MarMarJan-MarJan-MarMarMarJan-MarJan-Mar
20132014201320142013201420132014
0Food and live animals6847421,9392,1365205001,4821,489
00Live animals other than animals of Division 0317165061662952
01Meat and meat preparations2602787077706673193200
02Dairy products and birds' eggs1241473433895364153191
03Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and preparations thereof554615015423215655
04Cereals and cereal preparations232969789480248233
05Vegetables and fruit212159598885247253
06Sugars, sugar preparations and honey99312833299784
07Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and manufactures thereof303194100383999107
08Feeding stuff for animals (excl. unmilled cereals)252066598266260210
09Miscellaneous edible products and preparations1201453694383636100105
1Beverages and tobacco87822602366467160166
11Beverages 80762402225757138146
12Tobacco and tobacco manufactures7619157102220
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels1551484384256372167178
21Hides, skins and furskins, raw121535400000
22Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits 00113276
23Crude rubber (incl. synthetic and reclaimed) 00011144
24Cork and wood111330348112230
25Pulp and waste paper441414571213
26Textile fibres and their wastes121136322254
27Crude fertilisers and minerals (excl. coal, petroleum and precious stones)121234388102627
28Metalliferous ores and metal scrap958426123815214649
29Crude animal and vegetable materials nes99272621184745
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials55971662036755991,7921,829
32Coal, coke and briquettes79212318176739
33Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials46851411744794531,2831,373
34Gas, natural and manufactured0326177121438384
35Electric current103019333
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes45161422165948
41Animal oils and fats4414111133
42Fixed vegetable fats and oils112219144941
43Animal or vegetable fats and oils, processed; waxes00012275
5Chemicals and related products4,9344,38812,79312,5278671,2662,6953,100
51Organic chemicals2,0871,7484,8754,8151935326501,013
52Inorganic chemicals2410533719165247
53Dyeing, tanning and colouring materials139512816184647
54Medical and pharmaceutical products1,9201,7245,2705,0473303691,0491,111
55Essential oils; perfume materials; toilet and cleansing preparations5645681,5861,6558692250249
56Fertilisers (other than those of Division 27)00015665155142
57Plastics in primary forms263191816669199200
58Plastics in non-primary forms3234911043441102118
59Chemical materials and products nes2682637777606764191172
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material137149395458303323904977
61Leather; leather manufactures nes; dressed furskins33672144
62Rubber manufactures nes65171625247271
63Cork and wood manufactures (excl. furniture)1920575812163846
64Paper, paperboard and articles thereof131435416566192200
65Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up articles and related products1212343627338191
66Non-metallic mineral manufactures nes2127587332319093
67Iron and steel101132334145124140
68Non-ferrous metals7617193640116134
69Manufactures of metals nes47501371756466188199
7Machinery and transport equipment1,0298572,5492,3189961,2543,3573,531
71Power generating machinery and equipment82331821316478202200
72Machinery specialised for particular industries514913313184134242562
73Metalworking machinery2267481519
74General industrial machinery and equipment nes and parts nes11812832138880137257338
75Office machines and automatic data processing machines4303831,001901221213700682
76Telecommunications and sound equipment61571701487593241266
77Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances nes and parts228154600436154169463496
78Road vehicles (incl. air-cushion vehicles)21215858197239586712
79Other transport equipment363178118116184651255
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles9339782,6372,7104545291,3631,507
81Prefab buildings; plumbing and electrical fixtures and fittings811263111163544
82Furniture and parts thereof; bedding, cushions etc1012284126307486
83Travel goods, handbags and similar containers1133792524
84Articles of apparel; clothing accessories18144844119130362351
85Footwear226727277874
87Professional, scientific and controlling apparatus nes3024068541,08384115254342
88Photographic apparatus; optical goods; watches and clocks878126124917215160
89Miscellaneous manufactured articles nes5034511,4101,252164182484526
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere233811711792101268285
Unclassified estimates245761221908185246260
           
Total8,0867,56221,43421,3364,1384,81212,49313,370
1 March 2014 is based on current Intrastat response levels, see background notes.  
2 Estimates for which a commodity classification is not available.
Table 4 Goods Exports and Imports classified by country1
        €million
CountryExportsImports
MarMarJan-MarJan-MarMarMarJan-MarJan-Mar
20132014201320142013201420132014
Austria67241487718174649
Belgium1,0781,0112,6192,91380103293273
Bulgaria5514141149
Croatia2-1-5-0-0
Cyprus42950000
Czech Republic3938100123243585106
Denmark43491341361402920192
Estonia22550243
Finland3926101807102431
France3623841,0161,016198350567679
Germany7244951,8881,3883223251,0771,071
Great Britain1,1381,1052,9652,8471,3161,4193,8944,177
Greece221770642388
Hungary 3028726711112827
Italy 1891905975357472222209
Latvia411161467
Lithuania2267782416
Luxembourg571217431310
Malta31641041
Netherlands333331910898179218622639
Northern Ireland1211313373718481242257
Poland688018421632308990
Portugal3430878410123233
Romania30299187682319
Slovakia551514441516
Slovenia238815216
Spain2551636096077482206217
Sweden636417816434289990
EU Country not specified322553893117280328
Total EU4,6674,24712,19511,7992,7232,9758,1098,477
  of which Euro-Zone43,1222,6928,0997,7239731,2103,1353,265
         
Australia6050176151881826
Brazil3520745458178637
Canada505618817246268062
China165120481413232250693747
India24286461373498103
Japan16513444746882105238492
Malaysia2113584121185455
Mexico549917725026227166
Norway35289976141131326345
Russia47531451577233653
Saudi Arabia396515714900271
Singapore4055132148252071105
South Africa25246295851715
South Korea253471904235106104
Switzerland1843306071,17143434218590
Taiwan814243716224556
Thailand149303530319193
Turkey3943113117253672101
USA2,1001,8475,2154,9374224471,5291,314
Other countries283289909903122142365444
Country unknown541811233014482
         
Total8,0867,56221,43421,3364,1384,81212,49313,370
1 March 2014 is based on current Intrastat response levels, see background notes. 
2 Croatia joined the EU on 1 July 2013.   
3 Includes estimates for traders below the Intrastat threshold and transactions where the EU country was not specified.
4 Euro-zone members from January 2014: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Greece, Ireland, Italy,
  the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Malta, Cyprus, Slovakia, Estonia and Latvia.
5 Trade for which the country of origin or country of final destination is unknown.
Table 5 Goods Exports and Imports classified by commodity and principal countries1
    €million
  ExportsImports
 Country by Section level of SITCMarMarJan-MarJan-MarMarMarJan-MarJan-Mar
20132014201320142013201420132014
Great Britain1,1381,1052,9652,8471,3161,4193,8944,177
0Food and live animals263280761797190204561600
1Beverages and tobacco2222595921245465
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels3034869513123733
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials40591271484214411,2381,392
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes1254441110
5Chemicals and related products4263761,067860169185478505
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material5565156189120127362382
7Machinery and transport equipment191162403394186214583596
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles8780240223146162432457
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere232561774646138138
Other EU2,33,5293,1439,2308,9521,4061,5564,2154,299
0Food and live animals280296750797220212641612
1Beverages and tobacco2821786531338176
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels887124022123245863
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials14839241262521955
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes33781493928
5Chemicals and related products2,2151,8725,8005,5553723861,1541,194
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material6063172180107114339365
7Machinery and transport equipment4553811,0629823025091,0581,190
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles3593701,00799493113283341
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere275676127117130342374
USA2,1001,8475,2154,9374224471,5291,314
0Food and live animals710243738178867
1Beverages and tobacco232677741224
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels3367341010
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials030030012323
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes0-0-0000
5Chemicals and related products1,6631,3513,9763,553158161436464
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material98274927286673
7Machinery and transport equipment8684221250135148740462
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles3063338749295673172201
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere43108331010
China4 165120481413232250693747
0Food and live animals2733781082267
1Beverages and tobacco10110000
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels9825242469
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials0-000000
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes0011-000
5Chemicals and related products283610913715164250
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material225523266980
7Machinery and transport equipment822221184117122335359
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles161752537077225232
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere00003399
Rest of World1,1531,3473,5434,1877601,1402,1622,833
0Food and live animals1061233263977064185202
1Beverages and tobacco141345381182322
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels2632827921295563
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials0011128120331359
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes002033109
5Chemicals and related products60175218422422153518585886
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material1211353526286877
7Machinery and transport equipment216207652608255261640924
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles16417746551189103251276
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere14319394441513
  
Total8,0867,56221,43421,3364,1384,81212,49313,370
1 March 2014 is based on current Intrastat response levels, see background notes.
2 Croatia joined the EU on 1 July 2013.
3 Includes estimates for traders below the Intrastat threshold and transactions where the EU country was not specified.
4 China includes Hong Kong and Macao.

Background Notes

 

Introduction

Goods Exports and Imports statistics provide data on the movement of goods between countries. The statistics are a combination of Customs-based non-EU trade statistics and data from the Intrastat Survey of Irish traders involved in trade with other EU member states. The collection of trade data is the responsibility of VIMA (a branch of Revenue). The CSO is responsible for processing and disseminating the data.

Revisions

Trade figures are subject to revision on the incorporation of late Intrastat and VAT returns and corrections made by traders. When the preliminary results for a month are published, the results for months -1 (February 2014 in this publication), -4 (November 2013) and -8 (July 2013) are revised.

Intrastat System

The Intrastat system has two components. Firstly, the Intrastat survey (conducted by the Revenue Commissioners), in which traders, above the Intrastat survey trade thresholds, make detailed monthly returns giving information on the quantity and value of all exports to or imports from EU countries.

The total number of traders required to make a detailed import return is around 6,700 while around 1,900 must make a detailed export return. The response rate in terms of number of traders in March 2014 was 64%, covering an estimated 91% of the total value of intra-EU trade (these response rates will have increased by the next time data for March is published).

The second component of the Intrastat system is the regular VAT return, on which all traders are required to record the total value of goods imported from and exported to other EU countries. This information provides the basis for determining total EU trade for those traders below the Intrastat survey thresholds. It is also used to maintain the register of EU traders.

Extrastat System

The statistics of trade with non-EU countries are compiled from the documents supplied by importers and exporters to the Customs authorities. The document is the Single Administrative Document (SAD) used for Customs clearance purposes.

Estimation

The figures in this release include estimates for traders above the Intrastat thresholds who did not make detailed returns for the period and for traders below the thresholds who did not provide aggregate intra-EU trade figures on their VAT returns.

Estimates for Intrastat non-respondents are apportioned to individual commodities and countries whenever previous Intrastat returns are available. Estimates for traders below the Intrastat thresholds are assigned to partner country where possible, but not to commodity.

Imports incorporate an upward adjustment of 1.75% of total imports, which is included in ‘Unclassified estimates’. This special adjustment arises from the difficulty of comprehensively covering all EU imports through the Intrastat survey system. The unclassified category also includes certain miscellaneous adjustments.

More information is now being processed on lower value transactions. Prior to January 2012, transactions below €254 were grouped together, this value has now decreased to €127. Therefore, this has resulted in more detail being available at commodity level in Table 3 and at country level in Tables 4 and 5.

Unit Value Indices

The monthly unit value index measures monthly unit value trends relative to the annual levels in the preceding year using value weights relating to that year’s trade (Laspeyres index).

The annual index is compiled using value weights for both the current and previous year (Fisher index) to allow for change in the structure of trade in goods.

The monthly index series should be regarded as interim measures suitable for month-to-month comparisons within a given year. Previous monthly indices are revised when late returns are received.

When the annual unit value index is compiled, the monthly unit value indices are rescaled to make their average equal to the annual index.

Seasonally Adjusted Series

Monthly exports, imports, trade surplus and the volume series for exports and imports have been seasonally adjusted using the US Bureau of the Census X-11 Variant of the Census Method 11 Seasonal Adjustment Program. In the main, monthly projections are based on series recalculated at the end of the previous year.

Services Exports and Imports

The quarterly Balance of Payments (BOP) statistics provide detail on Services exports and imports.

upArrowHide Background Notes

Scan the QR code below to view this release online or go to
http://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/gei/goodsexportsandimportsmarch2014/