EXPORTS FROM indigenous Irish firms grew by half a billion euro to €14.7 billion in 2011, a “record year” for Irish exporters, according to Enterprise Ireland.

In its end-of-year report, the agency, which is charged with helping Irish companies export to world markets, said that Irish exports had now returned to pre-recession levels.

The figures do not include exports generated by IDA-supported companies, which are mainly international firms.

Enterprise Ireland supports about 3,500 indigenous Irish companies.

Approximately 50 per cent of exports from indigenous Irish companies were in the food sector in 2011, with strong food and commodity prices providing a welcome boost to the value of exports.

However, Enterprise Ireland chief executive Frank Ryan said Irish food companies had experienced a rise in exports in volume as well as value terms.

Engineering was the second largest exporting sector, responsible for about €2.3 billion in exports.