asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the steps being taken to remedy Ireland's adverse trade balances with Portugal.
Written Answers. - Trade Balances with Portugal.
173.
I circulate a tabular statement showing Ireland's trade with Portugal for each of the years 1980-1986 and for the first 11 months of 1987, the latest date for which figures are available.
The table shows that Ireland's exports to Portugal have increased from £10.4 million in 1980 to £29.2 million in the period January to November 1987. As a consequence our trade deficit has been reducing from a peak of £19.6 million in 1985 to £13.7 million in 1986 and to £9 million in first 11 months of last year.
The positive trend in our trade balance is due, to a large degree, to Portugal's accession to the European Economic Community on 1 January 1986. CTT, with a trade consultant in Lisbon, are now in a position to provide a comprehensive range of support services for Irish exporters.
In 1988 Ireland will, for the first time, have a national stand at the Alimentaria Food and Drink Exhibition which will take place in Barcelona from 4-9 March 1988. This Spanish Exhibition attracts key importers and buyers from Spain and Portugal and CTT intend conducting an extensive pre-Fair canvass in both countries to advertise and promote interest in the Irish stand.
In October 1988 CTT have scheduled Portugal in its buyer airlift programme for the first time. This will involve flying selected Portuguese buyers to Ireland to meet selected Irish exporters.
I am satisfied that the level of activities proposed by CTT for Portugal in 1988 will maintain the recent improvement in our balance of trade with that country.
Statement
Trade with Portugal
|
Year |
Imports (£m) |
Exports (£m) |
Balance (£m) |
|
1980 |
16.3 |
10.4 |
– 5.9 |
|
1981 |
18.1 |
19.0 |
+ 0.9 |
|
1982 |
22.2 |
17.2 |
– 5.0 |
|
1983 |
26.4 |
21.5 |
– 4.9 |
|
1984 |
35.1 |
22.1 |
– 13.0 |
|
1985 |
45.5 |
25.9 |
– 19.6 |
|
1986 |
40.5 |
26.8 |
– 13.7 |
|
January-November 1987 (provisional) |
38.2 |
29.2 |
– 9.0 |
|
January-November 1986 |
38.2 |
25.2 |
– 13.0 |
Principal commodities traded in 1986 and January-October 1987
|
1986£000 |
Jan-Oct 87£000 |
|
|
IMPORTS |
||
|
Fish crustaceans and molluscs |
— |
103 |
|
Vegetables and fruit |
— |
145 |
|
Beverages |
— |
857 |
|
Hides skins and furskins |
1,249 |
— |
|
Organic chemicals |
46 |
144 |
|
Manufactured fertilisers |
808 |
56 |
|
Artificial resins and plastic materials |
264 |
283 |
|
Leather and leather manufactures |
197 |
— |
|
Rubber manufactures |
95 |
223 |
|
Cork and wood |
1,244 |
770 |
|
Paper, paperboard and articles of paper pulp |
1,477 |
1,112 |
|
Textile yarns fabrics and made up articles |
10,053 |
6,130 |
|
Non-metallic mineral manufactures |
665 |
746 |
|
Manufactures of metal |
1,679 |
1,386 |
|
Iron and steel |
— |
797 |
|
General industrial machinery |
604 |
811 |
|
Telecommunications and sound recording equipment |
1,387 |
774 |
|
Office machines and ADP equipment |
135 |
— |
|
Electrical machinery apparatus and appliances |
324 |
922 |
|
Articles of apparel and clothing accessories |
14,022 |
13,230 |
|
Footwear |
3,973 |
4,804 |
|
EXPORTS |
||
|
Live animals chiefly for food |
— |
403 |
|
Miscellaneous edible food products |
1,828 |
2,526 |
|
Hides skins and furskins |
2,823 |
2,508 |
|
Organic chemicals |
6,612 |
3,631 |
|
Medicinal and pharmaceutical products |
608 |
494 |
|
Essential oils and perfume materials |
1,889 |
2,349 |
|
Leather and leather products |
600 |
603 |
|
Manufactured fertilisers |
— |
608 |
|
Textile yarn fabrics and made-up articles |
750 |
963 |
|
Non-metallic mineral manufactures |
209 |
— |
|
General industrial machinery |
368 |
554 |
|
Office machines and ADP equipment |
5,021 |
5,154 |
|
Telecommunications and sound recording equipment |
336 |
1,111 |
|
Electrical machinery apparatus and appliances |
687 |
440 |
|
Professional scientific and controlling apparatus |
1,319 |
1,576 |
|
Miscellaneous manufactured articles |
614 |
836 |