asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce why the growth rate in exports expansion has not been as great in the last year as it was in the preceding year.
Written Answers. - Exports Growth Rate.
282.
The growth in world trade since early 1974 has been hampered by the worldwide economic recession.
The volume of total OECD exports grew at a rate of only 7 per cent in 1974 as against 15 per cent in 1973. In volume terms OECD exports are expected to show a decline of the order of 6 per cent in 1975 as compared with 1974.
As might be expected Irish exports have also felt the effects of the recession and while they have continued to grow in both value and volume terms the rate of growth has slowed. Our exports in value terms for the period January to October, 1975 grew by 28.1 per cent. However, it is expected that the overall growth rate for 1975 in value terms will be of the order of 25 per cent. Allowing for price increases this indicates a moderate growth in volume terms.