Vol. 524 No. 1
97 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the trading partners from whom Ireland has imported the greatest amount in each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21862/00]
According to the CSO's trade statistics bulletin, December 1998, in 1997 and 1998 Ireland's largest suppliers of merchandise imports were Great Britain, £8,200 million and £9,599 million, respectively, the USA, £3,876 million and £5,012 million, Japan, £1,785 million and £2,193 million, Germany, £1,562 million and £1,936 million, Singapore, £1,416 million and £1,540 million, France, £1,254 million and £1,215 million, the Netherlands, £849 million and £950 million, and Northern Ireland, £745 million and £839 million, in that order. In 1999, according to the CSO's Trade Statistics Bulletin, December 1999, the order was Great Britain, £10,306 million, USA, £5,708 million, Germany, £2,123 million, Japan, £1,962 million, France, £1,439, Singapore, £1,347 million, the Netherlands, £1,058 million and Northern Ireland, £885 million.
Total imports for the three years in question rose by 15.4%, 20.8% and 9.7%, respectively. The rise reflects the increased economic activity in Ireland, as much of it relates to increased inputs for Irish industry. Total merchandise exports in the same period rose by 16.2%, 27.8% and 15.3% respectively, and the total trade surplus grew from £9,454.3 million in 1997 to £17,745.1 million in 1999.
