Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 March 2004
83 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which the profiles of Irish exports have changed in the past five years, having particular regard to Ireland’s shift from a low wage economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8207/04]
View answerThe table below sets out, on a year by year basis and ranked in order of magnitude, the top ten commodities exported since 1998. As can be seen from the table, the main commodities exported were computers, organic chemicals, medical and pharmaceutical products, electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances and miscellaneous manufactured articles. These commodities have consistently remained at the top of the list until end November 2003 — the latest date for which figures are available.
|
Commodity |
Nov-03 |
Dec-02 |
Dec-01 |
Dec-00 |
Dec-99 |
Nov-98 |
Grand Total |
|
Computers |
13,222,386 |
17,309,439 |
21,034,504 |
19,616,838 |
15,152,683 |
12,940,209 |
99,276,059 |
|
Organic Chemicals |
14,247,984 |
17,378,629 |
17,117,880 |
16,897,510 |
11,394,108 |
9,946,284 |
86,982,395 |
|
Medical & Pharmaceuticals |
12,407,620 |
15,669,893 |
8,975,122 |
5,311,737 |
4,815,062 |
4,212,398 |
51,391,832 |
|
Electric Machinery |
4,711,307 |
10,564,768 |
10,164,508 |
7,915,992 |
5,135,803 |
4,212,243 |
42,704,621 |
|
Misc Manufactured articles |
4,420,248 |
5,034,547 |
6,002,668 |
6,121,857 |
5,208,985 |
4,231,431 |
31,019,736 |
|
Telecommunications & Sound Equipment |
1,196,699 |
2,635,456 |
3,657,621 |
3,736,537 |
3,582,147 |
2,150,442 |
16,958,902 |
|
Essential Oils; Perfume materials |
3,754,560 |
3,160,548 |
3,140,935 |
2,355,172 |
2,448,689 |
2,012,418 |
16,872,322 |
|
Non-specified |
2,594,085 |
2,588,485 |
2,782,972 |
2,561,689 |
2,110,931 |
1,930,355 |
14,568,517 |
|
Chemical Materials & other |
2,201,766 |
2,223,569 |
2,295,192 |
1,940,869 |
1,862,762 |
1,414,117 |
11,938,275 |
|
Professional, Scientific & Controlling Apparatus |
3,004,398 |
2,061,756 |
1,881,810 |
1,703,241 |
1,387,281 |
1,394,954 |
11,433,440 |
|
Grand Total |
61,761,053 |
78,627,090 |
77,053,212 |
68,161,442 |
53,098,451 |
44,444,851 |
383,146,099 |
The above data refers to all exports, that is, commodities exported by foreign direct investment companies and indigenous Irish companies.
The Government's policy has for long been to assist indigenous companies to move up the value chain towards the higher value, higher wage end of the market. The policy with regard to the attraction of foreign direct investment into Ireland has also been to target companies engaged in higher value activities and with a higher wage structure. Enterprise Ireland is actively involved in assisting Irish companies to make the transition to the high end of the market in recognition of the fact that, ultimately, the future security of Irish companies depends on their ability to expand export volumes into international markets.
