Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2005
299 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the new markets which have opened for the manufacturing industry here; the markets closed, if any; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38227/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraAmbitious Irish companies continue to win market position in a range of existing and new markets throughout the world. This is no easy task. Building market share is challenging but success in harnessing the extensive opportunities that exist will drive their future success. The developing global economy is creating new competitive challenges from places such as China and the Far East, India, and eastern Europe. However, these economies are increasingly becoming fast growing markets for the high-tech goods and services output of the Irish economy. Consequently, exploiting these fast growing major new markets has become a key factor in determining the continued success of the activities being carried out in Ireland.
In 2004 the value of Irish merchandise exports reached €84.3 billion. This represents a 2.6% rise from 2003 and a 26% rise from 1999. The sectoral composition of Irish exports remains highly concentrated, with 71.6% of total exports coming from just two sectors, chemicals, which includes organic chemicals and pharmaceuticals and machinery and transport goods, which include ICT products.
Pharmachem exports expanded 4.8% in 2004, and have witnessed dramatic growth over the past six years, expanding in aggregate by 77.6%. The sector containing ICT goods continued to decline in 2004 with exports falling by 2.8%. Computer products, accounting for €13.4 billion of exports, experienced a fall of 10% in 2004. Exports from food and beverages reached €7.1 billion in 2004, a rise of 3% from 2003 and 13% from 1999. Its share of total Irish merchandise exports stood at 8% in 2004, a drop of one percentage point from 1999. Meat exports rose 10.5% from 2003 to reach the €2 billion mark for the first time.
The USA remains Ireland's largest export market, taking 20% of Irish exports in 2004. Exports there fell by 2.2% from 2003 but have risen by 60% from 1999. The UK accounts for 18% of Irish exports and is a particularly important destination for food and beverage exports. Exports there rose by 1.9% from 2003 and by 3% from 1999. In 2004 14.6% of Irish exports went to Belgium, an increase of 258% from 1999. This is mainly due to Belgium becoming a European distribution centre for pharmaceutical companies based in Ireland. Exports to other euro zone countries have fallen by 6.4% since 1999.
With regard to exports to the rest of the world, exports to Pacific Rim countries grew strongly in 2004, with impressive increases in Australia, 14%; China, 9%; Japan, 11%; South Korea, 15%; Hong Kong, 21%; and Singapore, 18%. Decreases in exports to countries such as Malaysia, 23%; Mexico, 11%; and Sweden, 16%, showed steep year-on-year declines.
Work to expand Irish markets has included recent overseas trade missions and trade fairs to countries in Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Australia and Asia. New market opportunities were targeted in China, Korea, Japan, Iran and the Gulf and New Zealand and Australia, leading to direct sales, partnering and distribution opportunities for client companies. Of particular significance was the trade mission to China last January, which was led by the Taoiseach. This was Ireland's largest ever trade mission involving a total of 121 companies in a range of sectors and led to contracts involving a sum of the order of €125.8 million.
