Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Nov 1996

Vol. 472 No. 1

Written Answers. - Export Figures.

Seán Power

Question:

58 Mr. Power asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the total value of exports for the first six months of 1996; the comparative figures for 1995; the projected growth for the period in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21963/96]

Noel Ahern

Question:

71 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the value of indigenous company exports and merchandise exports of foreign-owned companies in 1995; and the growth which is anticipated in 1996. [21975/96]

Minister for Tourism and Trade (Mr. E. Kenny)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 71 together.

Central Statistics Office figures for the first six months of this year show that the total value of exports for the period was £14.9 billion compared to £13.3 billion in 1995, an increase of 13 per cent. For the month of June itself, there was an increase of 14 per cent over June 1995. Our trade surplus, grew from £3.4 billion for the first half of 1995 to £3.9 billion this year, an increase of 14 per cent. Preliminary CSO estimates for July also indicate an increase of 14 per cent over July 1995. ABT's growth target for indigenous exports for 1995 and 1996 is 14 per cent for each calendar year.

While the CSO does not provide statistics broken down on the basis of nationality of ownership, ABT carries out quarterly and annual surveys of the exports achieved by their indigenous client firms. This survey excludes the food and drink sectors which are the responsibility of An Bord Bia. ABT estimate that total indigenous exports are estimated to have reached £3.8 billion in 1995 an increase of 16.8 per cent on the 1994 figure. This increase is ahead of ABT's 1995 growth target of 14 per cent. Latest estimates now suggest that merchandise exports by foreign-owned companies currently constitute over 70 per cent of total exports.