Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:93 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the percentage of turnover spent by Irish industry on exporting/transporting products (a) to the home market and (b) to foreign markets.
Written Answers. - Transport Statistics.
The percentage of turnover spent on exporting/transporting products to the home market and to foreign markets can vary greatly depending on the product being transported, e.g. high volume, low value products and low volume, high value products and on the mode of transport i.e. surface or air freight. Statistical data is not available on the overall percentage of turnover spent by Irish industry and transporting its goods to and from foreign markets or within the domestic market.
Both public and private sector bodies have, however, on occasion made estimates of the percentage cost of transporting goods to export markets. Government thinking on this issue is contained in the National Development Plan of March 1989 which stated:
It is estimated that transport costs for Irish exporters to Europe account for between 9% and 10% of export sales values and that these costs are approximately twice that incurred by Community countries trading with one another on the European mainland. This cost penalty applies to the great bulk of Ireland's international trade — not only export but also imports of materials and capital goods.
Similar estimates are not available on the cost of transporting goods on the home market.