An increase in exports to a number of markets saw the State’s trade surplus expand by some 8 per cent to €3.8 billion in January.

Figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the value of exports increased to €8.31 billion in January on a seasonally adjusted basis, up 9 per cent on the €7.59 billion recorded in December and 13 per cent ahead of the €7.35 billion figure for the same month last year.

The data show rises in the value of exports to the UK (up 15 per cent to €1.38 billion), other EU states (up 5 per cent to €3.19 billion) and rest of world markets (12.6 per cent to €3.11 billion) when compared to the same month last year.

Industrial produce exports increased in value by €516 million year on year to €7.05 billion.

The value of agricultural produce exported in January increased by €35 million year on year to €409 million but fishing and forestry exports were €4 million lower than in January, 2011 at €38 million.

The value of unclassified exports more than trebled from €60 million in January, 2011 to €196 million in January of this year.

Exports to the US fell by almost €100 million to €1.44 billion year on year in January, while exports into the UK increased by €180 million to €1.27 billion in the same period.

Exports to Belgium increased by more than one third to €1.25 billion but sales into the French market contracted by almost one quarter to €375 million.

The value of imports in January was marginally ahead of the seasonally adjusted figure recorded in the same month last year at €4.5 billion.