I propose to circulate in the Official Report a tabular statement giving details of our trade with South Africa from 1987 as prepared by the Central Statistics Office.
In overall terms our trade with South Africa increased from £47 million in 1987 to £68 million in 1988 but fell to £39.8 million for the period January-November 1989.
As regards our exports to South Africa over the period, food and live animals is by far the largest single sector. Exports of food and live animals increased from £19.3 million in 1987 to £31.8 million in 1988. The figures for January-November 1989 show a significant decrease in this sector to £5.9 million. I am advised that the reason for the fall in these exports is that other markets, mainly in Europe and the Middle East, were available to beef exporters.
Leaving aside these food exports, our export trade with South Africa has been relatively static at £24.3 million, £28.4 million and an estimated £25 million in the years 1987, 1988 and 1989, respectively. In the same period our total worldwide exports increased by some 55 per cent. I would also point out that our total trade with South Africa represents less than 0.5 per cent of total EC trade with that country.