Foreign Affairs Update: Irish Export Levels 16th January 2013
16th January 2013 - Bernard Durkan TD
Question No. 79
Parliamentary Question – Dept Details
To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the countries worldwide with which Ireland recorded greatest improvement in the expansion of trade and commercial activity in 2012; his objectives in this regard in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– Bernard J. Durkan.
* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 16th January, 2013.
Ref No: 1946/13 Proof: 95
REPLY
With the Deputy’s permission, I propose taking questions 42, 78 and 79 together.
In 2011, total exports (Services and Merchandise) reached over €174 billion, a 6.5% increase on the 2010 figure. Total services exports increased by €7.1 billion (9.5%) to €81.4 billion while total merchandise exports increased by €3 billion (4%) to €92.7 billion.
In 2012, merchandise exports for the first 10 months reached €77.5 billion, up 2% on 2011; while services exports for the first nine months reached €66.46 billion, up 11% on 2011.
Europe accounted for just over 59% of merchandise exports for the first 10 months of 2012 and exports increased by 4.3% when compared to the same period in 2011. Notable growth was achieved in merchandise exports to Great Britain (11%), Germany (24%) and the Netherlands (7%). Exports to Canada increased by 24% in the ten month period, albeit from a lower base. Similarly, exports to Japan and Switzerland increased by 20% and 26% respectively. Total merchandise exports to the BRICS group were up by approximately 1% for the period, due mainly to strong growth in exports to Russia (+18%) and India (+12%). Services exports to non-EU markets for the first three quarters of 2012 increased by 23% and to EU markets by 3% when compared to the same period in 2011.
While the majority of Irish services and merchandise exports go to Europe and the US and we must continue to cultivate these markets, the Government is strongly focused on the further development of trade ties with Latin America, Africa and Asia. Eight of the 27 priority markets identified under the Government Trade Strategy are in Latin America, Africa and Asia (Brazil, South Africa, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Republic of Korea). For the first 10 months of 2012, total merchandise trade with each of these countries was as follows; Brazil, €706 million; South Africa, €355 million; China, €4.3 billion; India, €513 million; Japan, €2.4 billion; Malaysia, €391 million; Singapore, €678 million and the Republic of Korea, €576 million.
Under the oversight of the Export Trade Council which I chair, we will continue in 2013 to boost bilateral trade with these countries, as well as other key markets in Latin America, Asia and Africa. In relation to Africa, my Department’s targeted Strategy is aimed at exploring new sectors and markets in that continent that have particular potential for Irish companies and we are working closely with the state agencies and Irish companies on its ongoing implementation.
Bernard Durkan TD
Kildare NorthBernard J Durkan is the Fine Gael spokesperson on Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. Originally from Killasser, Co Mayo,…
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