Vol. 538 No. 1
114 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which Ireland's trade has developed with EU countries in the past 24 months in terms of both imports and exports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17455/01]
Ireland's exports to EU countries in 2000 totalled £40.3 billion, 51.2 billion, representing an 18% increase on 1999 figures. EU markets showing particularly strong growth for exports in 2000 included Italy, £2.6 billion, 3.3 billion, +31%, the UK, £14.3 billion, 18.1 billion, +23% and Germany, £7.4 billion, 9.4, +17%.
In 1999, exports to EU countries increased by 11% on 1998 to total £34.2 billion, 43.5 billion. Among the EU markets showing strong export growth in 1999 were the Netherlands, £3.3 billion, 4.2 billion, +28%, Italy, £2 billion, 2.5 billion, +28%, France, £4.4 billion, 5.6 billion, +17% and the UK, £11.6 billion, 14.7 billion, +11%.
Provisional figures for the first two months of 2001, the latest figures available, indicate that exports to EU countries totalled £6.9 billion, 8.8 billion, an increase of 21% on the same period in 2000.
Ireland's imports from EU countries in 2000 totalled £23.7 billion, 30 billion, representing a 23% increase on 1999 figures. There were significant increases in imports from the UK, £13.6 billion, 17.2 billion, +18% and France, £2 billion, 2.6 billion, +42% in 2000.
In 1999, imports from EU countries increased by 13% on 1998 to total £19.2 billion, 24.4 billion. EU countries from which our imports increased significantly in 1999 included France, £1.4 billion, 1.8 billion, +18% and Italy, £730.1 million, 927.1 million, +34%.
Provisional figures for the first two months of 2001 indicate that imports from EU countries totalled £4.3 billion an increase of 17% on the same period in 2000.
Question No. 115 answered with Question No. 69.
