Irish production drops by nearly half

Ireland's Central Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in Ireland in July was 56.6% lower than in the same month last year. The combined turnover of leather industry companies in July was 69.8% lower year-on-year. Ireland imported leather and leather products worth euro5.4 million in the first half of this year, compared with euro4.9 million in the same period last year. Irish exports of the same types of commodities in the January to June period were worth euro11.7 million, as against euro23.6 million the corresponding period in 2003.