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International comparison:
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For more information on this release:
E-mail: Trade@cso.ie Damian Malone +353 1 4984206 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

June 2015

Seasonally adjusted
€ million
 ExportsImportsSurplus
January 20158,6674,7373,930
February 20158,9775,1903,787
March 20158,6335,3053,328
April 20159,4564,8564,600
May 20159,0795,1983,880
June 20159,0954,9854,110

Increase in seasonally adjusted trade surplus in June

Goods Exports and Imports seasonally adjusted
go to full release

Preliminary figures for June 2015 show that seasonally adjusted exports remained relatively unchanged at €9,095 million compared to May 2015. Seasonally adjusted imports for June decreased by €213 million (-4%) to €4,985 million leading to an increase of €230 million (+6%) in the seasonally adjusted trade surplus to €4,110 million in June (see Table 2).

 

Exports of Medical and Pharmaceutical products increase in June

The (unadjusted) value of exports for June 2015 was €9,646 million representing an increase of €1,566 million (+19%) when compared with June 2014. The main driver behind the June 2015 increase was the increase in the exports of Medical and pharmaceutical products by €590 million (+31%) to €2,521 million. Exports of Machinery and transport equipment increased by €352 million (+36%) to €1,334 million (see Table 3).

The EU accounted for €5,616 million (58%) of total exports in June 2015 of which €1,493 million (15%) went to Belgium and €1,215 million (13%) to Great Britain. The USA was the main non-EU destination accounting for €1,881 million (20%) of total exports in June 2015.

Imports of Petroleum products down

The (unadjusted) value of imports for June 2015 was €5,078 million representing an increase of €249 million (+5%) when compared with June 2014. During June 2015 imports of Medical and pharmaceutical products increased by €254 million (+73%) to €604 million. Imports of Other transport equipment,including aircraft fell by €327million (-50%) and imports of Petroleum fell by €140 million (-34%) in June 2015 compared with June 2014 (see Table 3).

The value of imports for June 2015 excluding SITC 79 (Other transport equipment, including aircraft) was €4,754 million an increase of €576 million (+14%) when compared with the corresponding June 2014 figure of €4,178 million.

The EU accounted for 61% of the value of imports in June 2015, with €1,331 million (26%) of total imports coming from Great Britain. The USA with €707 million and China €347 million were the main non-EU sources of imports. 

NOTE on revised data: This release includes significant revisions to International Trade in Goods statistics.  While the most significant revision is due to recording trade in aircraft on a "transfer of economic ownership" basis, other revisions have been incorporated into the Trade data back to 2000. 

The technical note (http://www.cso.ie/en/surveysandmethodology/externaltrade/) gives more detail on the revised trade in aircraft methodology and explains the impact the revisions will have on Trade in Goods, National Accounts and Balance of Payments. 

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    
PeriodValue1Volume index2Unit value index2 
ExportsImportsTrade surplusBase year 1990=100
€m€m€mExportsImportsExportsImportsTerms of trade3
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
200083,98654,96029,026401.4275.2115.0128.089.9
2001 92,73056,45536,275422.0274.2120.9131.891.7
2002 94,05955,10638,953435.1276.6118.5126.793.5
2003 82,58548,51534,070418.4259.7108.0116.193.0
2004 84,94951,55733,392446.5283.6104.0113.591.7
2005 87,17358,46328,710456.7316.3104.5114.491.3
2006 87,49763,83323,664457.6323.9104.4117.788.7
2007 90,58065,93924,640481.8340.9101.9117.386.9
2008 88,50359,33629,168484.5300.598.0119.781.9
2009 87,58648,20339,382468.4249.298.9113.986.8
2010 90,92448,69542,229485.5241.3101.2119.284.9
2011 93,19153,03540,155507.9240.899.7126.478.8
2012 93,50755,06138,446479.1231.9105.8133.779.2
201389,18254,77234,409460.6238.8103.9131.678.9
201492,46960,60731,862..........
         
2014Quarter 121,76514,9136,852454.3253.2103.1133.577.2
 Quarter 223,55914,4319,128491.0247.7102.3132.976.9
 Quarter 323,27915,0138,266467.4246.6104.7133.078.7
 Quarter 423,86616,2517,615474.3273.9106.3131.680.8
2015Quarter 126,02815,97210,056..........
 Quarter 227,86914,78613,083..........
         
2014January7,0855,0632,022447.6259.4102.7132.377.6
 February6,9594,4932,466427.8228.5104.9134.977.7
 March7,7205,3562,364487.5271.8101.6133.376.2
 April7,3224,7482,573461.9244.5100.9132.876.0
 May8,1584,8543,305504.7254.1103.6133.777.5
 June8,0804,8293,250506.4244.5102.3132.377.3
 July7,2525,1492,102440.2251.9103.1132.178.0
 August7,7734,6783,095467.9233.8104.9132.978.9
 September8,2545,1853,069494.2254.1106.0134.079.1
 October47,9325,4692,464477.2272.0105.4131.880.0
 November7,8645,5482,317465.0284.1106.8130.581.8
 December8,0695,2352,835480.7265.7106.6132.580.5
  
20154January8,3155,0783,237.......... 
 February8,3585,0143,344.......... 
 March9,3555,8803,475.......... 
 April9,3344,8214,513..........
 May8,8894,8874,002..........
 June9,6465,0784,568..........
1 Trade statistics revised since 2000, see background notes.     
2 Monthly data have been rescaled to make their average equal to the annual.   
3 Export unit value index divided by Import unit value index.
4 Revised. June 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 121,73113,2568,475445.1227.4
 Quarter 222,02313,7338,290455.0235.5
 Quarter 322,93513,8449,090476.8243.1
 Quarter 422,66013,9998,661468.6250.2
2014Quarter 121,80714,1497,658453.5242.3
Quarter 223,18314,5198,665487.3248.6
Quarter 323,37615,9107,466469.0259.3
Quarter 424,44916,2288,221483.5273.7
2015Quarter 126,27715,23211,045....
 Quarter 227,63015,04012,590....
     
2013January6,9774,3792,598426.0238.4
 February7,1704,5102,660446.7224.7
March7,5844,3673,217462.6219.2
April7,5314,5193,012460.2232.3
May7,2464,5002,746448.7231.9
June7,2464,7142,532456.1242.2
July7,5684,5742,994472.7236.8
August7,8764,8343,042488.7257.0
September7,4904,4363,054469.0235.5
October7,5014,6502,851467.1244.7
November7,2334,7892,443445.4258.7
December7,9274,5603,367493.2247.2
2014January7,2734,6062,667462.3239.5
 February7,4154,4942,921450.8231.6
 March7,1195,0492,070447.3255.9
 April7,0804,4612,619452.4232.5
 May8,1715,1393,032505.8263.0
 June7,9324,9183,014503.7250.2
 July6,9515,4661,485424.0265.2
 August8,3885,2533,135505.7258.7
 September8,0375,1912,846477.4254.0
 October7,8735,3942,479465.6264.9
 November7,4095,7621,647441.5297.3
 December9,1675,0734,095543.4258.9
 
2015January8,6674,7373,930....
 February8,9775,1903,787....
 March8,6335,3053,328....
 April9,4564,8564,600....
 May9,0795,1983,880....
 June9,0954,9854,110....
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
JunJunJan-JunJan-JunJunJunJan-JunJan-Jun
20142015201420152014201520142015
0Food and live animals8128644,5874,7335085303,0443,124
00Live animals other than animals of Division 032625143132766661
01Meat and meat preparations2913101,6041,7027481424461
02Dairy products and birds' eggs1811669028466559410360
03Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and preparations thereof36452742881922119126
04Cereals and cereal preparations25321671928683486475
05Vegetables and fruit232712814591106534557
06Sugars, sugar preparations and honey8954533232180184
07Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and manufactures thereof25291891663140200242
08Feeding stuff for animals (excluding unmilled cereals)19271191556154397386
09Miscellaneous edible products and preparations1781931,0091,0564246229271
1Beverages and tobacco80904835507280366383
11Beverages 74874515266572326341
12Tobacco and tobacco manufactures643124784042
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels1581528839475570361415
21Hides, skins and furskins, raw141382810000
22Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits 1246131318
23Crude rubber (including synthetic and reclaimed) 003132109
24Cork and wood161477799105770
25Pulp and waste paper452628462629
26Textile fibres and their wastes111166711298
27Crude fertilisers and minerals (excluding coal, petroleum and precious stones)1212777310116061
28Metalliferous ores and metal scrap9287500548152296118
29Crude animal and vegetable materials nes785061121591102
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials791665014785343853,4522,720
32Coal, coke and briquettes69495714159498
33Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials691454363844142742,6271,967
34Gas, natural and manufactured2113410287684607
35Electric current211334484648
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes5533271824109126
41Animal oils and fats4428231167
42Fixed vegetable fats and oils1143152194107
43Animal or vegetable fats and oils, processed; waxes001112912
5Chemicals and related products4,6915,48926,04131,9609911,2276,0657,025
51Organic chemicals1,8541,9149,85010,8043172561,7881,918
52Inorganic chemicals10971103232299120
53Dyeing, tanning and colouring materials10115867181998111
54Medical and pharmaceutical products1,9312,52110,48914,7303506042,2252,873
55Essential oils; perfume materials; toilet and cleansing preparations5416533,5694,143101115539613
56Fertilisers (other than those of Division 27)01232126290308
57Plastics in primary forms26391582036375429419
58Plastics in non-primary forms39492172554651258277
59Chemical materials and products nes2782921,6271,6525459339386
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material1551849351,0293614252,0452,326
61Leather; leather manufactures nes; dressed furskins22141522911
62Rubber manufactures nes6735372630151162
63Cork and wood manufactures (excluding furniture)2020121120161997116
64Paper, paperboard and articles thereof1212776969103404450
65Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up articles and related products121576863640200216
66Non-metallic mineral manufactures nes30351671923540194232
67Iron and steel1326701215459296312
68Non-ferrous metals6638394844265323
69Manufactures of metals nes53613383527688430505
7Machinery and transport equipment9821,3345,3816,5631,6631,55410,17110,162
71Power generating machinery and equipment39512912314444360256
72Machinery specialised for particular industries47632843321241269411,265
73Metalworking machinery231414874155
74General industrial machinery and equipment nes and parts nes105152769846108130668760
75Office machines and automatic data processing machines3884871,7892,0012633171,3821,711
76Telecommunications and sound equipment70115322475122128574698
77Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances nes and parts1492458561,3491642081,0131,186
78Road vehicles (including air-cushion vehicles)21241301381792701,3571,709
79Other transport equipment (including aircraft)1601969241,1786513243,8362,524
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles9851,1735,9206,9255156543,0503,740
81Prefab buildings; plumbing and electrical fixtures and fittings10116073151989106
82Furniture and parts thereof; bedding, cushions etc111374802836177210
83Travel goods, handbags and similar containers1171010115261
84Articles of apparel; clothing accessories1722105133117134701825
85Footwear2316202529147187
87Professional, scientific and controlling apparatus nes4165102,5142,918118159690896
88Photographic apparatus; optical goods; watches and clocks79945055482034124169
89Miscellaneous manufactured articles nes4495172,6403,1431822311,0701,286
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere83682672422022114130
Unclassified estimates24912129244193108566607
   
Total8,0809,64645,32453,8974,8295,07829,34430,758
1 Trade statistics revised since 2000. June 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
JunJunJan-JunJan-JunJunJunJan-JunJan-Jun
20142015201420152014201520142015
Austria30451612332115106102
Belgium7131,4935,4727,149112108570632
Bulgaria693250221347
Croatia3514171032
Cyprus279140012
Czech Republic37322352223247199244
Denmark55562873103030202225
Estonia121013311727
Finland322215516220127166
France4294262,2962,4995954463,1122,463
Germany5066522,9123,5463264322,2892,645
Great Britain1,0771,2155,9246,4401,3331,3318,1467,932
Greece2431156159452025
Hungary 202711816716116763
Italy 1993781,1211,39882106467559
Latvia251424121217
Lithuania441918434448
Luxembourg973735331922
Malta2211140136
Netherlands3644182,0652,5132282581,2811,361
Northern Ireland1301477538478686551518
Poland761184596073246202252
Portugal283917533117147797
Romania3333170175774251
Slovakia572837352539
Slovenia331818122010
Spain2223131,3271,8116074440483
Sweden631144304682937197256
EU Country not specified22510412233136289
Total EU4,0785,61624,41729,3193,0693,11618,33218,485
  of which Euro-Zone32,5713,85415,96619,9751,4761,4868,5318,606
         
Australia4555307425474543
Brazil20191291231342372316
Canada42853594462843206237
China41971861,0271,1092533471,5051,976
India20351932512838208238
Japan17515292797298998261,003
Malaysia1723961292028122136
Mexico811236076412430137191
Norway2323156141133124628614
Russia103403731811420108101
Saudi Arabia54593805511033
Singapore55722823211432171208
South Africa1836154133793445
South Korea56442192885042212267
Switzerland5856852,6483,43412756889670
Taiwan151575761626116156
Thailand1624771133059174252
Turkey54333493053640216256
USA2,0931,88110,67312,6046777073,7673,983
Other countries3304391,8622,3231311521,0591,206
Country unknown51114125561215371
 
Total8,0809,64645,32453,8974,8295,07829,34430,758
1 Trade statistics revised since 2000. June 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 SITCJunJunJan-JunJan-JunJunJunJan-JunJan-Jun
20142015201420152014201520142015
Great Britain1,0771,2155,9246,4401,3331,3318,1467,932
0Food and live animals2983331,6661,8102052221,2061,266
1Beverages and tobacco25241251202928142132
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels403820821110136978
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials13602172183362272,3711,700
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes1175332023
5Chemicals and related products2943531,7901,9001852011,0421,145
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material7082398451148153807868
7Machinery and transport equipment2322009131,0222032351,2441,306
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles80904545301551899131,082
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere23351451725660333333
Other EU23,0004,40018,49322,8791,7361,78610,18610,552
0Food and live animals3153281,7061,7552102291,2791,342
1Beverages and tobacco23271391642935162178
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels82824565312020127132
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials71152635519171218
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes44222010156777
5Chemicals and related products1,6982,69811,06514,2693444732,3652,545
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material6471370411133159770874
7Machinery and transport equipment3976212,2762,5887826564,2884,101
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles3804662,2302,776107124680756
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere31921773014556277329
USA2,0931,88110,67312,6046777073,7673,983
0Food and live animals112170100261312788
1Beverages and tobacco20261431871289
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels331421241822
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials589523019319115558
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes----0011
5Chemicals and related products1,5241,1707,4058,5891833289891,494
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material81180602440145192
7Machinery and transport equipment1151606301,0683421891,9801,546
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles3503882,0842,35975115424550
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere471826452224
China3 1971861,0271,1092533471,5051,976
0Food and live animals4754267322241620
1Beverages and tobacco00220000
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels794756331819
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials0-000000
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes00110000
5Chemicals and related products74453803461424101127
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material2313182637157202
7Machinery and transport equipment34401801791291807431,028
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles31361371857596448558
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere0000342121
Rest of World1,7121,9639,20710,8668319075,7406,314
0Food and live animals1411288787466563416407
1Beverages and tobacco1212747712155465
2Crude materials, inedible, except fuels25211571282030128165
3Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials0123123128856744
4Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes1021452125
5Chemicals and related products1,1011,2235,4026,8562652011,5691,714
6Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material121774902937166191
7Machinery and transport equipment2053131,3821,7072062941,9172,180
8Miscellaneous manufactured articles1431931,0151,075102129585794
9Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere7455219183462730
          
Total8,0809,64645,32453,8974,8295,07829,34430,758
1 Trade statistics revised since 2000. June 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 to the Trade in Goods statistics

Since May 2015, significant revisions were incorporated into International Trade in Goods statistics.  While the most significant revision is due to recording trade in aircraft on a "transfer of economic ownership" basis, other revisions were incorporated into the Trade data back to 2000. 

Along with the aircraft revisions Goods Exports revisions also include upward revisions due to revaluing some products that had previously been recorded on a “transfer of economic ownership” basis, which was not in line with goods statistics methodology.  Also Goods Imports revisions include downward revisions due to a change in the estimation methodology for non-response.

The technical note (http://www.cso.ie/en/surveysandmethodology/externaltrade/) gives more detail on the revised trade in aircraft methodology and explains the impact the revisions will have on Trade in Goods, National Accounts and Balance of Payments.

Standard 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 (May 2015 in this publication), -4 (February 2015) and -8 (October 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 June 2015 was 71%, covering an estimated 95% of the total value of intra-EU trade (these response rates will have increased by the next time data for June 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.

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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