Vol. 538 No. 1
113 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which Ireland's trade has developed with non-EU countries in the past 24 months in terms of both imports and exports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17454/01]
Ireland's exports to non-EU countries in 2000 totalled £24.1 billion, 30.5 billion, representing a 36% increase on 1999 figures. Non-EU markets showing particularly strong growth for exports in 2000 included the United States; £11.2 billion, 14.3 billion, +38%, Japan; £2.5 billion, 3.1 billion, +60% and South Korea; £840.4 million, 1.1 billion, +195%.
In 1999, exports to non-EU countries increased by 29% on 1998 to total £17.6 billion. Non-EU countries showing strong export growth in 1999 included the US, £8.1 billion, 10.3 billion, +32% and Japan, £1.5 billion, 2 billion, +29%.
Provisional figures for the first three months of 2001, the latest figures available, indicate that exports to non-EU countries totalled £7.1 billion, 9 billion, an increase of 44% on the same period in 2000.
Ireland's imports from non-EU countries in 2000 totalled £18.3 billion, 23.3 billion, representing a 25% increase on 1999 figures. There were significant increases in imports from the United States, £7.2 billion, 9.2 billion, +24%, South Korea, £1 billion, 1.3 billion, +60% and Norway, £778.9 million, 989 million, +86% in 2000.
In 1999, imports from non-EU countries increased by 9% on 1998 to total £14.6 billion. Non-EU countries from which our imports increased significantly in 1999 included the US, £5.8 billion, 7.4 billion, +14%, Hong Kong, £349.4 million, 443.6 million, +84% and Taiwan, £718 million, 911.6 million, +22%. Provisional figures for the first three months of 2001 indicate that imports from non-EU countries totalled £4.8 billion, 6.1 billion, an increase of 25% on the same period in 2000.
