Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the top 10 EU and non-EU countries with which this country has had the most favourable trade balance in each of the past five years; the trends emerging; the future prospects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24113/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The table provides details of the top 10 EU and non-EU countries for which Ireland has had the most favourable trade balance, in descending order, in respect of each of the years 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001. Based on the table it can be seen that there has been a considerable degree of consistency in regard to the list of countries with which Ireland has had the most favourable trade balance over the past five years, in both the EU and non-EU categories. For example, Belgium, France, Germany Italy and the Netherlands have regularly featured in the first five EU countries with the most favourable trade balance, whereas elsewhere, in the non-EU category, the USA, Switzerland, Australia, Hong Kong and Mexico have tended to predominate during the five year period.

It is notable also that in 2001 Ireland had a favourable trade balance with China but, since then, the growth of Chinese exports to Ireland has created a trade deficit with China at a ratio of approximately 3:1. Although Irish exports to China are growing at a significant rate, imports from China are growing at a faster rate due to the phenomenal growth of the Chinese economy.

At the macro level, however, Ireland has for many years now been in the fortunate position of having an external trade surplus, and latest figures for 2005 indicate a trade surplus of €31.6 billion. Against the continuing background of a difficult global trading environment, therefore, I consider that Irish exporters have performed extremely well and are well poised to take advantage of an expected upturn in world trading conditions, going forward.

List of Top Ten EU and Non-EU countries for which Ireland has had the most favourable trade balance 2001-2005.

EU

2005 — Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Luxembourg, Greece, N. Ireland.

2004 — Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, N. Ireland, Greece, Austria.

2003 — Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, N. Ireland, Greece, Austria.

2002 — Belgium, Germany, Italy, France, Great Britain, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, N. Ireland, Greece.

2001 — Great Britain, Belgium, Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, N. Ireland, Sweden, Denmark.

Non-EU

2005 — USA, Switzerland, Australia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Philippines, Israel, Russia, Hong Kong.

2004 — USA, Switzerland, Australia, Hong Kong, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Japan, Russia, Nigeria.

2003 — USA, Switzerland, Australia, Hong Kong, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Russia, South Africa, Nigeria, Israel.

2002 — USA, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Mexico, South Africa, Israel, U.A.E.

2001 — USA, China, Japan, Switzerland, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia.