NORTHERN Ireland manufacturing exports increased by 18 per cent to over £3 billion for the year to the end of March 1996, according to the Economy Minister Mr Adam Ingram.

Announcing details of the latest report on exports, Mr Ingram said that the figures showed that the economy was being strengthened and employment opportunities increased by the strong growth in exports.

The report showed that local companies now export 35 per cent of their products up from 33 per cent last year and 28 per cent in 1991/92. Sales to the Republic, Northern Ireland's most important single market outside the UK, increased by 12.5 per cent to £710 million.