Please click here to read full press release and half year report.

Please see below some further issues that are not specifically addressed in the Press Release.

• Concerns that energy , rates and transport costs driven by diesel price escalation may damage export growth.
• Growing concerns over fiscal difficulties in many European economies, as well as in the USA.
• The lack of Irish export expansion into the fast growing Asia-Pacific economies, with Ireland losing out compared to other EU countries.

An example is Irish exports to China which are down 1% in the first half of 2011, whereas exports to China by the EU as a whole, are up 27%. South Korea exports from Ireland are down 7%, whereas exports by the EU as a whole show an estimated growth of 26%. Similarly Irish exports to Malaysia are down 40%, and to Australia are down 11% in the first six months.

The IEA are therefore calling on Government to create with the export industry a new Asia Pacific Strategy to drive exports to the region and ensure a strong flow of investment into Ireland from this area. In the new strategy for Asia Pacific, Government needs to support the extended Trade Finance requirements for exporting into the region.

If you have any added comments, please contact:

John Whelan
Chief Executive, Irish Exporters Association
Tel: 087 927 1243
Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it