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For more information on this release:
E-mail: Trade@cso.ie Norita Murphy +353 1 4984295 Bernie Ryan +353 1 4984235
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

February 2015

Seasonally adjusted
€ million
 ExportsImportsSurplus
September 20147,7234,5113,213
October 20147,5624,6792,883
November 20147,0334,7552,278
December 20148,7944,4904,304
January 20158,2874,4513,836
February 20158,5254,7233,802

Increases in seasonally adjusted exports and imports in February

Goods Exports and Imports seasonally adjusted
go to full release

Preliminary figures for February 2015 show that seasonally adjusted exports increased by €238 million (+3%) to €8,525 million from January. With a marginally higher increase in seasonally adjusted imports for February of €272 million (+6%), the seasonally adjusted trade surplus decreased by €34 million (-1%) to €3,802 million in February (see Table 2).

Increase in exports of Medical and pharmaceutical products

Comparing February 2015 with February 2014, the value of exports increased by €1,145 million (+17%) to €7,937 million. The main drivers were exports of Medical and pharmaceutical products which increased by €620 million (+37%) and exports of Miscellaneous manufactured articles which increased by €177 million (+20%).


The EU accounted for €4,219 million (53%) of total exports in February 2015 of which 13% went to both Great Britain and Belgium. The USA was the main non-EU destination accounting for 23% (€1,807 million) of total exports in February 2015.


Imports of Machinery and transport equipment up


Comparing February 2015 with February 2014, the value of imports increased by €484 million (+12%) to €4,563 million. Imports of Machinery and transport equipment increased by €239 million (+23%) to €1,287 million. Imports of Petroleum and related materials decreased by €147 million (-32%) to €310 million.


The EU accounted for 63% of the value of imports in February 2015, with 29% of total imports coming from Great Britain. The USA (11%) and China (7%) were the main non-EU sources of imports. 

This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
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 91,68849,14642,542479.1231.9105.8133.779.2
201386,99950,02536,974460.6238.8103.9131.678.9
201489,12653,41635,710..........
         
2014Quarter 121,25413,4147,840454.3253.2103.1133.577.2
 Quarter 222,82013,0769,744491.0247.7102.3132.976.9
 Quarter 322,22812,9719,257467.5245.2104.6133.378.5
 Quarter 422,82513,9548,870473.6265.9106.1132.280.3
         
20143January6,9604,5412,420447.6259.4102.7132.377.6
 February6,7924,0792,714427.8228.5104.9134.977.7
 March7,5014,7952,706487.5271.8101.6133.376.2
 April7,0604,2982,762461.9244.5100.9132.876.0
 May7,9164,4963,420504.7254.1103.6133.777.5
 June7,8444,2823,562506.4244.5102.3132.377.3
 July6,8684,3642,504440.1249.2103.1132.377.9
 August7,4284,1013,327468.2232.2104.8133.578.5
 September7,9324,5063,426494.2254.1106.0134.079.1
 October7,6194,7442,875477.2272.0105.4131.880.0
 November7,4654,5782,887464.0262.8106.2131.680.7
 December7,7414,6333,108479.6262.9106.6133.180.1
  
20153January7,9514,7723,179..........
 February47,9374,5633,374..........
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 February 2015 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
     
2013Quarter 121,18111,6829,499442.4225.6
 Quarter 221,56712,3189,249452.2233.5
 Quarter 322,30212,8459,456475.8242.4
 Quarter 422,11013,2648,846468.6250.2
2014Quarter 121,29912,7298,569453.5242.3
Quarter 222,45713,1609,297487.3248.6
Quarter 322,32213,7488,574469.1257.8
Quarter 423,38813,9239,465482.8265.4
     
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
August7,6714,4823,190488.7257.0
September7,2974,1193,178469.0235.5
October7,3494,4002,949467.1244.7
November7,0324,5432,489445.4258.7
December7,7294,3213,409493.2247.2
2014January7,1454,1313,014462.3239.5
 February7,2374,0793,158450.8231.6
 March6,9174,5202,397447.3255.9
 April6,8274,0382,789452.4232.5
 May7,9294,7613,168505.8263.0
 June7,7014,3613,340503.7250.2
 July6,5834,6321,951423.9262.4
 August8,0164,6053,411506.1256.9
 September7,7234,5113,213477.4254.0
 October7,5624,6792,883465.6264.9
 November7,0334,7552,278440.6275.0
 December8,7944,4904,304542.2256.2
 
2015January8,2874,4513,836....
 February8,5254,7233,802....
1 Based on seasonal patterns up to December 2014. Accordingly all values in this table may have been revised.
Table 3 Goods Exports and Imports classified by commodity1 
 €million
SITC (Rev 4)ExportsImports
FebFebJan-FebJan-FebFebFebJan-FebJan-Feb
20142015201420152014201520142015
0Food and live animals7147391,3961,3914734971,0011,020
00Live animals other than animals of Division 03272144479144434
01Meat and meat preparations2452714925066172128146
02Dairy products and birds' eggs1261172442156359128118
03Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and preparations thereof57551069517193840
04Cereals and cereal preparations243049637178153162
05Vegetables and fruit192138418184171166
06Sugars, sugar preparations and honey98181729305758
07Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and manufactures thereof3429695232436786
08Feeding stuff for animals (excl. unmilled cereals)202639487360144129
09Miscellaneous edible products and preparations15416029630736397181
1Beverages and tobacco7899156179565499100
11Beverages 739414717051478888
12Tobacco and tobacco manufactures6699671113
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels1361432792975763106125
21Hides, skins and furskins, raw121425280000
22Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits 01122246
23Crude rubber (incl. synthetic and reclaimed) 00102234
24Cork and wood1113222410101923
25Pulp and waste paper541093568
26Textile fibres and their wastes121221241123
27Crude fertilisers and minerals (excl. coal, petroleum and precious stones)13112623981716
28Metalliferous ores and metal scrap747715516516172834
29Crude animal and vegetable materials nes911182215182731
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials3753106925984591,231928
32Coal, coke and briquettes88131516262333
33Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials29408968457310920652
34Gas, natural and manufactured1041116113263225
35Electric current0409992517
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes559918213438
41Animal oils and fats44881223
42Fixed vegetable fats and oils101115172931
43Animal or vegetable fats and oils, processed; waxes00102234
5Chemicals and related products3,9544,8058,1549,8578631,0331,8342,209
51Organic chemicals1,3751,5013,0693,497188248481719
52Inorganic chemicals1418273513292945
53Dyeing, tanning and colouring materials910192014163033
54Medical and pharmaceutical products1,6952,3153,3274,371380427739777
55Essential oils; perfume materials; toilet and cleansing preparations5616451,0871,2857892159187
56Fertilisers (other than those of Division 27)0010405679120
57Plastics in primary forms253150586665131133
58Plastics in non-primary forms3636717535397980
59Chemical materials and products nes2392505045165160108116
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material151159308307322362663753
61Leather; leather manufactures nes; dressed furskins23451234
62Rubber manufactures nes55101023254850
63Cork and wood manufactures (excl. furniture)1920394015163034
64Paper, paperboard and articles thereof121126226667133134
65Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up articles and related products1114232627335968
66Non-metallic mineral manufactures nes2330465829376377
67Iron and steel1112222449499994
68Non-ferrous metals761313465694137
69Manufactures of metals nes61571251086477135155
7Machinery and transport equipment7287951,4441,6031,0481,2872,2972,612
71Power generating machinery and equipment48289966395012387
72Machinery specialised for particular industries47558495187212431445
73Metalworking machinery33546121118
74General industrial machinery and equipment nes and parts nes151128260244100117200236
75Office machines and automatic data processing machines236235516531216255468529
76Telecommunications and sound equipment46679412277107173204
77Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances nes and parts140222282434151185331380
78Road vehicles (incl. air-cushion vehicles)21254144229307486646
79Other transport equipment3733626342437466
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles8721,0491,7271,9694626029821,175
81Prefab buildings; plumbing and electrical fixtures and fittings914202513183037
82Furniture and parts thereof; bedding, cushions etc1413282628355767
83Travel goods, handbags and similar containers1123791619
84Articles of apparel; clothing accessories15213044102136224262
85Footwear236623344765
87Professional, scientific and controlling apparatus nes351395674712102148228283
88Photographic apparatus; optical goods; watches and clocks808116815719233846
89Miscellaneous manufactured articles nes399521799996167199342396
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere6933787088100185203
Unclassified estimates24957961149386186173
           
Total6,7927,93713,75215,8884,0794,5638,6199,335
1 February 2015 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
FebFebJan-FebJan-FebFebFebJan-FebJan-Feb
20142015201420152014201520142015
Austria2231537017243239
Belgium1,0499921,9061,9628593176202
Bulgaria4691312836
Croatia22440001
Cyprus12330101
Czech Republic3941828135367580
Denmark38528710434317164
Estonia224418114
Finland25265452992119
France314384642784172189337371
Germany4425088921,047356430746855
Great Britain8569931,7491,9201,2831,3142,7842,560
Greece203047554264
Hungary 192239619171625
Italy 1441633443207492142162
Latvia35572234
Lithuania33555111018
Luxembourg5610103478
Malta12341112
Netherlands276357567630215212421378
Northern Ireland1181382372669383182164
Poland658713817729386279
Portugal3032535813122322
Romania273358566151222
Slovakia45910271218
Slovenia325572124
Spain1982314434916688135172
Sweden505610110928386378
EU Country not specified21731586101197216
Total EU3,7634,2197,5548,3232,6352,8645,5555,619
  of which Euro-Zone32,5412,7815,0415,5191,0261,1882,0762,294
         
Australia415910011812121817
Brazil1619343411132025
Canada698211613821353675
China4146150293305211308506646
India1517334034336972
Japan136114334229145170386366
Malaysia1321284321183837
Mexico9412115120321344565
Norway2123484412856216137
Russia58281045415163032
Saudi Arabia44102841711011
Singapore4745939624178573
South Africa53177133661013
South Korea3044568436586993
Switzerland3956518411,43640117156369
Taiwan138231918243647
Thailand1014263331396376
Turkey3442748026446595
USA1,4871,8073,0913,722439481858955
Other countries300350589675176196302475
Country unknown56511828225347
 
Total6,7927,93713,75215,8884,0794,5638,6199,335
1 February 2015 is based on current Intrastat response levels, see background notes. 
2 Includes estimates for traders below the Intrastat threshold and transactions where the EU country was not specified.
3 Euro-zone members from January 2015: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Greece, Ireland, Italy,
  the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Malta, Cyprus, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
4China includes Hong Kong and Macao.    
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 SITCFebFebJan-FebJan-FebFebFebJan-FebJan-Feb
20142015201420152014201520142015
Great Britain8569931,7491,9201,2831,3142,7842,560
0Food and live animals263288519541184200400408
1Beverages and tobacco2122383726184134
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels3033636511112220
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials31368949395330950610
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes11324467
5Chemicals and related products225281487581152181320350
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material6172124140132136260274
7Machinery and transport equipment131149238283181210383413
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles6785141169144176294346
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere24264850554910997
Other EU22,9073,2265,8056,4041,3521,5512,7713,059
0Food and live animals255268501498197229408449
1Beverages and tobacco2227455223274249
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels777814916721213940
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials617162917313081
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes336612142124
5Chemicals and related products1,8622,0523,6934,140403418808757
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material5962116119125143255305
7Machinery and transport equipment293289601563332418697849
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles302394621756107125231249
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere29365873115126239256
USA1,4871,8073,0913,722439481858955
0Food and live animals1817273023105022
1Beverages and tobacco233748631122
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels23473366
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials0001312121212
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes----0000
5Chemicals and related products1,0171,2552,2022,670171191302387
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material187411619234549
7Machinery and transport equipment82126167258145157307320
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles3253605966626480128149
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere32533477
China3 146150293305211308506646
0Food and live animals504875882356
1Beverages and tobacco01010000
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels7916203367
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials00000000
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes00000000
5Chemicals and related products43411018414193544
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material133623345471
7Machinery and transport equipment29216251101144243322
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles1628355465102156190
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere00004386
Rest of World1,3961,7612,8143,5387939101,7002,115
0Food and live animals1271182742326757139134
1Beverages and tobacco12132525681415
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels2021473820253451
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials001117485239225
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes00003467
5Chemicals and related products8071,1761,6702,383124224369671
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material1115242623264955
7Machinery and transport equipment193210376448290358668708
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles16218233432882120174240
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere612563574498
          
Total6,7927,93713,75215,8884,0794,5638,6199,335
1 February 2015 is based on current Intrastat response levels, see background notes.
2 Includes estimates for traders below the Intrastat threshold and transactions where the EU country was not specified.
3 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 (January 2015 in this publication), -4 (October 2014) and -8 (June 2014) 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 February 2015 was 69%, covering an estimated 93% of the total value of intra-EU trade (these response rates will have increased by the next time data for February 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.

Methodology

There are methodological differences between the measurement of exports and imports in this release compared with Industrial Production, National Accounts and Balance of Payments statistics. This release records the movement of all goods over the frontier at the valuation placed on the goods at the time of crossing  the frontier. Industrial Production, National Accounts and Balance of Payments statistics take account of additional aspects of cross-frontier activities such as goods sent abroad for processing where goods cross the frontier without change of ownership. The CSO releases for those statistics provide more information on their methodology.

Services Exports and Imports

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

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