Irish trade with the rest of the world deteriorated in June as the strong euro and sluggish global demand continued to affect Irish exports to non-EU countries.
Data released by the Central Statistics Office today show that Ireland exported €17,352 million worth of goods to non-EU countries in the first half of 2003 a fall of 6 per cent on the same period last year.
Trade with non-EU accounts for about 35 per cent of all foreign trade with the United States, by far Ireland's most important trading partner, accounting for almost half of all exports.
The influence of US-owned companies on national economic statistics is shown by the difference between the value of trade to and from the United States.
In the first six months of 2003 US imports were valued at €3.3 billion, €1.1 billion less than 2003, while exports to the US were €8.5 billion only marginally down on last year's figure of €8.6 billion.
Exports of computers decreased 15 per cent to €2,509 million and organic chemicals decreased to 5,129 million, a fall of 6 per cent.
The value of imports fell 9 per cent to €8,983 million, though this figure was inflated last year by one-off aircraft order by Ryanair last year.
Imports from the United States fell 26 per cent to €3,301 million while imports from China increased from €489 million to €827 million - a rise of 69 per cent.