asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make a statement showing the balance of trade figures as between Ireland and the other countries of the EC for each of the last three years for which figures are available, adjusted for inflation; and if he will make a statement on the trend indicated and the implications thereof.
Written Answers. - Trade Figures.
The Central Statistics Office have advised me that there is no conversion factor according to which the figures requested by the Deputy can be adjusted for inflation. There are indices which relate to the whole of merchandise imports and exports but these are not appropriate for adjusting statistics for individual countries or geographical areas for inflation.
I propose to circulate in the Official Report a tabular statement showing actual figures for trade between Ireland and the other member countries of the EC for the years 1984, 1985 and 1986 and for the period January/September, 1987.
These figures are encouraging and show that Irish exports to the rest of the EC are increasing and the balance of trade with our European partners is steadily improving in our favour. In the period 1984 to 1986 the value of our exports to the EC increased by 8.47 per cent or IR£527 million. In the same period our imports decreased by 1.7 per cent or IR£98 million.
Ireland's dependence on exports means that Irish companies must concentrate on the development of exports both to EC and non-EC markets. With exports to the EC representing 72 per cent of total Irish exports in 1986, the importance of this market is clear.
Following is the statement:
Country |
1984 (IR£m) |
Ireland's Balance (E-I) |
|
Imports |
Exports |
||
UK |
3,822 |
3,065 |
–757 |
Germany |
678 |
903 |
+225 |
France |
429 |
746 |
+317 |
Netherlands |
335 |
622 |
+287 |
Belgium and Luxembourg |
191 |
383 |
+192 |
Italy |
216 |
279 |
+63 |
Denmark |
82 |
68 |
–14 |
Spain |
101 |
94 |
–7 |
Portugal |
35 |
22 |
–13 |
Greece |
13 |
38 |
+25 |
Total |
5,902 |
6,220 |
Country |
1985 (IR£m) |
Ireland's Balance (E-I) |
|
Imports |
Exports |
||
UK |
4,026 |
3,211 |
–815 |
Germany |
730 |
986 |
+256 |
France |
456 |
821 |
+365 |
Netherlands |
356 |
664 |
+308 |
Belgium and Luxembourg |
206 |
396 |
+190 |
Italy |
214 |
364 |
+150 |
Denmark |
97 |
89 |
–8 |
Spain |
101 |
111 |
+10 |
Portugal |
46 |
26 |
–20 |
Greece |
15 |
47 |
+32 |
Total |
6,247 |
6,715 |
Country |
1986 (IR£m) |
Ireland's Balance (E-I) |
|
Imports |
Exports |
||
UK |
3,587 |
3,201 |
–386 |
Germany |
771 |
1,022 |
+251 |
France |
439 |
887 |
+448 |
Netherlands |
332 |
556 |
+224 |
Belgium and Luxembourg |
188 |
450 |
+262 |
Italy |
228 |
334 |
+106 |
Denmark |
88 |
92 |
+4 |
Spain |
120 |
137 |
+17 |
Portugal |
40 |
27 |
–13 |
Greece |
11 |
41 |
+30 |
Total |
5,804 |
6,747 |
Cumulative Totals 1984-86 (IR£m)
17,953 |
19,682 |
+1,729 |
Country |
1987 (IR£m) |
Ireland's Balance (E-I) |
|
Imports |
Exports |
||
UK |
2,759 |
2,626 |
–133 |
Germany |
571 |
886 |
+315 |
France |
292 |
744 |
+452 |
Netherlands |
247 |
558 |
+311 |
Belgium and Luxembourg |
145 |
352 |
+207 |
Italy |
164 |
284 |
+120 |
Denmark |
67 |
70 |
+3 |
Spain |
83 |
119 |
+36 |
Portugal |
29 |
25 |
–4 |
Greece |
11 |
35 |
+24 |
Total |
4,368 |
5,699 |