asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the extent of the country's exports to the Soviet Union in terms of cash and volume; the extent of this country's imports from the Soviet Union in similar detail; the plans, if any, he has to expand our trade with the Soviet Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Foreign Trade.
107.
I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statistical table showing imports and exports between Ireland and the USSR for 1984, 1985 and 1986 and for January-August 1987 in both cash and volume terms. Also included is a breakdown of imports and exports by product category in cash terms for the latest full year for which figures are available — i.e., 1986. It has not been possible, in the time available, to abstract corresponding volume details for 1986. The Deputy may wish to contact the Central Statistics Office for this information.
While the overall level of Irish-Soviet trade has been relatively static over the past few years there have been wide fluctuations between imports and exports due mainly to intermittent large Soviet purchases of food commodities. The pattern of Irish imports from the Soviet Union is also erratic where petroleum products and wood are predominant.
The general economic conditions in the Soviet Union have meant that it has been an extremely difficult market for Irish exporters in the recent past. All indications are that 1988 will be at least as difficult a year for exporters as this year. Irish firms can find it difficult to develop and sustain business on the Soviet market where availability of hard currency is a significant determinant on the level and range of imports.
Notwithstanding this, considerable resources at official and CTT level are being and will continue to be brought to bear on this market. The main export drive is carried out within the framework of the Ireland-USSR Joint Commission and the Working Groups on the Agriindustry and Machinery and Equipment. These are the officially designated bodies which meet annually to review and plan for future expansion in economic cooperation between the two countries. In addition, CTT through its office in Moscow, will work with a number of companies already exporting to the USSR to help ensure contracts are renewed in the earlier half of 1988.
Irish Trade with USSR £m and tonnes (000's).
|
Year |
Imports |
Exports |
Balance (E—I) |
|||
|
£m |
Tonnes |
£m |
Tonnes |
£m |
Tonnes |
|
|
(000's) |
(000's) |
(000's) |
||||
|
1984 |
46.8 |
217 |
20.6 |
21 |
–26.2 |
–196 |
|
1985 |
47.5 |
199 |
34 |
33 |
–13.5 |
–166 |
|
1986 |
30.8 |
178.5 |
45 |
71 |
+14.2 |
–107.5 |
|
Jan-Aug 1987 |
22.4 |
139.5 |
12.6 |
12 |
–9.8 |
–127.5 |
Principal Commodities Traded in 1986.
|
1986 |
|
|
£000 |
|
|
IMPORTS |
|
|
Crude Rubber |
334 |
|
Cork and Wood |
6,616 |
|
Mineral and Fuels and related materials |
19,617 |
|
Inorganic Chemicals |
557 |
|
Fertilisers, manufactured |
456 |
|
Cork and Wood manufactures (excl. furniture) |
140 |
|
Iron and Steel |
85 |
|
Non-Ferrous Metals |
502 |
|
Electrical Machinery and Apparatus |
995 |
|
Road Vehicles |
173 |
|
EXPORTS |
£000 |
|
Meat and Meat Preparations |
34,038 |
|
Dairy Products and Birds' Eggs |
136 |
|
Fish, Crustaceans and Molluscs |
470 |
|
Cereals and Cereal Preparations |
— |
|
Miscellaneous Edible Food Preparations |
4,721 |
|
Textile Yarns and Fabrics |
468 |
|
Non-Metallic Mineral Manufactures |
163 |
|
General Industrial Machinery and Equipment |
— |
|
Transport Equipment |
658 |
|
Articles of Apparel and Clothing Accessories |
1,137 |
108.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the extent of this country's exports to the United States in terms of cash and volume; the extent of this country's imports from the United States in similar detail; the plans, if any, he has to expand our trade with the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statistical table showing imports and exports between Ireland and the United States for 1984, 1985 and 1986 and for January-August 1987 in both cash and volume terms. Also included is a breakdown of imports and exports by product category in cash terms for the latest full year for which figures are available i.e., 1986. It has not been possible, in the time available, to abstract corresponding volume details for 1986. The Deputy may wish to contact the Central Statistics Office for this information.
In 1986, the USA was our fourth largest export market, after the UK, West Germany and France. The decline in the value of the dollar has meant that exporters' margins are tight and against this background the main thrust of Córas Tráchtála's programme in the United States for next year will be to maintain exports at their present levels. In addition, opportunities for increased exports exist in the food and drink areas and the engineering, electronics and chemical sectors. This year CTT will have provided their full range of support services to up to 1,000 firms exporting to the US market through head office, through offices in New York and Chicago and regional correspondents in Boston, Atlanta and San Francisco. In 1988, CTT support for exports to the US will reflect the importance of this market.
Irish Trade with the US £m. and Tonnes (000's)
|
Year |
Imports |
Exports |
Balance (E-I) |
|||
|
Tonnes |
Tonnes |
Tonnes |
||||
|
£m. |
(000's) |
£m. |
(000's) |
£m. |
(000's) |
|
|
1984 |
1,466 |
670 |
866 |
170 |
–600 |
– 500 |
|
1985 |
1,602 |
940 |
954 |
231 |
–648 |
– 709 |
|
1986 |
1,365 |
2,089 |
819 |
163 |
–546 |
–1,926 |
|
January-August 1987 |
1,011 |
1,755 |
494 |
123 |
–517 |
–1,632 |
Principal Commodities traded in 1986
|
£000 |
|
|
Imports: |
|
|
Live animals chiefly for food |
26,164 |
|
Feeding stuff for animals |
82,721 |
|
Tobacco and tobacco manufactures |
3,056 |
|
Textile fibres and their wastes |
11,307 |
|
Crude fertilisers and minerals, excluding coal and petroleum |
6,816 |
|
Coal, coke and briquettes |
52,672 |
|
Petroleum, petroleum products |
9,430 |
|
Organic chemicals |
39,554 |
|
Medicinal and pharmaceutical products |
12,547 |
|
Essential oils and perfume materials |
10,294 |
|
Fertilisers, manufactured |
7,845 |
|
Artificial resins and plastic materials |
14,155 |
|
Chemical materials and products |
21,018 |
|
Rubber manufactures |
4,493 |
|
Paper, paperboard and articles of paperpulp |
7,390 |
|
Textile yarns, fabrics and made up articles |
16,753 |
|
Non-metallic mineral manufactures |
11,931 |
|
Manufactures of metal, nes. |
22,332 |
|
Power generating machinery and equipment |
76,399 |
|
Machinery specialised for particular industries |
21,739 |
|
Metalworking machinery |
5,995 |
|
General industrial machinery and equipment |
38,635 |
|
Office machines and ADP equipment |
528,388 |
|
Telecommunications and sound recording equipment |
7,747 |
|
Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances |
132,554 |
|
Transport equipment |
13,773 |
|
Professional, scientific and controlling apparatus |
61,379 |
|
Photographic apparatus, optical goods, watches and clocks |
10,004 |
|
Miscellaneous manufactured articles |
37,875 |
|
Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere |
26,785 |
|
Exports: |
£000 |
|
Live animals, chiefly for food |
37,810 |
|
Coffee, tea, cocoa and spices |
3,937 |
|
Miscellaneous edible food products |
5,025 |
|
Crude fertilisers and minerals, excluding coal and petroleum |
6,479 |
|
Organic chemicals |
84,495 |
|
Medicinal and pharmaceutical products |
12,092 |
|
Essential oils, perfume material, toilet cleansing, preparations etc. |
5,618 |
|
Fertilisers, manufactured |
— |
|
Artificial resins and plastic materials |
9,899 |
|
Chemical materials and products |
50,708 |
|
Textile yarns, fabrics and made-up articles |
14,812 |
|
Non-metallic mineral manufactures |
43,641 |
|
Manufactures of metal, nes. |
23,867 |
|
Power generating machinery and equipment |
25,073 |
|
Machinery specialised for particular industries |
11,862 |
|
Metalworking machinery |
4,065 |
|
General industrial machinery and equipment |
20,273 |
|
Office machines and ADP equipment |
65,880 |
|
Telecommunications and sound recording equipment |
11,431 |
|
Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances |
68,097 |
|
Articles of apparel and clothing accessories |
24,941 |
|
Professional, scientific and controlling apparatus |
22,707 |
|
Photographic apparatus, optical goods, watches and clocks |
42,329 |
|
Miscellaneous manufactured articles |
34,107 |
|
Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere |
91,600 |
109.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the extent of this country's exports to Great Britain in terms of cash and volume; the extent of this country's imports from Great Britain in similar detail; the plans, if any, he has to expand our trade with Great Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statistical table showing imports and exports between Ireland and the United Kingdom for 1984, 1985 and 1986 and for January-August 1987 in both cash and volume terms. Also included is a breakdown of imports and exports by product category in cash terms for the latest full year for which figures are available — i.e., 1986. It has not been possible, in the time available, to abstract corresponding volume details for 1986. The Deputy may wish to contact the Central Statistics Office for this information.
The United Kingdom remains our largest export market. This market, along with Germany which is our second biggest export market, offers the best opportunity for export expansion in 1988. I am advised by CTT that last year, for the first time in several years, Irish exports share of overall UK imports showed an increase and CTT are confident this trend will be maintained in 1987 and that 1988 will show further improvement.
Córas Tráchtála maintains a strong presence on the British mainland through five regional offices. The CTT programme of events in 1987 reflected the importance of this market. This programme included seminars and workshops for exporters and potential exporters in Ireland, executive market research which is made available to exporters, group visits overseas by exporters, participation in trade fairs and exhibitions and bringing UK buyers to Ireland.
The main sectors where prospects exist for increased exports in the UK market are those where we are already strong, i.e., electronics, engineering, food, clothing, textiles and consumer goods. While not yet finalised, CTT's programme for this market for 1988 will reflect the importance of this market for Irish exporters.
Irish trade with the UK £m and tonnes (000's)
|
Year |
Imports |
Exports |
Balance (E-I) |
|||
|
Tonnes |
Tonnes |
Tonnes |
||||
|
£m |
(000) |
£m |
(000) |
£m |
(000) |
|
|
1984 |
3,822 |
7,275 |
3,064 |
3,863 |
–758 |
–3,412 |
|
1985 |
4,027 |
7,193 |
3,211 |
4,169 |
–816 |
–3,024 |
|
1986 |
3,586 |
7,982 |
3,202 |
4,375 |
–384 |
–3,607 |
|
Jan/Aug 87 |
2,432 |
5,068 |
2,278 |
2,674 |
–154 |
–2,284 |
|
Imports |
1986 |
|
£000 |
|
|
Meat and meat preparations |
49,577 |
|
Cereals and cereal preparations |
111,562 |
|
Coffee, tea, cocoa and spices |
63,304 |
|
Petroleum and related products |
428,258 |
|
Organic chemicals |
45,961 |
|
Essential oils, perfume materials |
89,875 |
|
Artificial resins and plastic materials |
87,883 |
|
Chemical materials and products |
47,768 |
|
Paper and paperboard and articles of paper pulp |
129,517 |
|
Textile yarns and fabrics |
145,421 |
|
Non-metallic mineral manufactures |
65,161 |
|
Iron and steel |
81,725 |
|
Non-ferrous metals |
59,899 |
|
Manufactures of metal |
132,656 |
|
Specialised industrial machinery |
110,265 |
|
General industrial machinery |
104,133 |
|
Office machines and ADP equipment |
118,083 |
|
Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances |
141,997 |
|
Road vehicles |
84,906 |
|
Articles of apparel and accessories |
213,114 |
|
Miscellaneous manufactured articles |
208,649 |
|
Commodities not classified elsewhere |
163,540 |
|
Exports: |
|
|
Live animals chiefly for food |
179,262 |
|
Meat and meat preparations |
261,270 |
|
Dairy products |
181,939 |
|
Coffee, tea, cocoa and spices |
94,418 |
|
Miscellaneous edible products |
80,551 |
|
Petroleum and related products |
35,313 |
|
Organic chemicals |
83,397 |
|
Beverages |
64,535 |
|
Metalliferous ores and metal scrap |
26,490 |
|
Textile yarns and fabrics |
158,305 |
|
Non-metallic mineral manufactures |
47,254 |
|
Manufactures of metal |
85,102 |
|
General industrial machinery and equipment |
56,684 |
|
Office machines and ADP equipment |
544,623 |
|
Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances |
105,304 |
|
Professional scientific and controlling apparatus |
50,901 |
|
Articles of apparel and accessories |
117,573 |
|
Miscellaneous manufactured articles |
178,601 |
|
Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere |
98,419 |