Euro area external trade surplus 3.7 bn euro and 11.2 bn euro deficit for EU27

Email item Email item Print item Print item

Euro area external trade surplus 3.7 bn euro and 11.2 bn euro deficit for EU27The first estimate for the euro area (EA16) trade balance with the rest of the world in September 2009 gave a 3.7 bn euro surplus, compared with -6.0 bn in September 2008. The August 2009 balance was -2.3 bn, compared with -10.8 bn in August 2008. In September 2009 compared with August 2009, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 5.5% and imports by 1.1%.

The first estimate for the September 2009 extra-EU27 trade balance was a 11.2 bn euro deficit, compared with -24.5 bn in September 2008. In August 2009 the balance was -12.0 bn, compared with -28.5 bn in August 2008. In September 2009 compared with August 2009, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 3.4% and imports by 2.2%. This data is released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

EU27 January-August 2009 detailed results The EU27 deficit decreased for energy (-152.3 bn euro in January-August 2009 compared with -261.1 bn in January-August 2008) and for raw materials (-12.1 bn compared with -27.5 bn). The surplus fell for machinery and vehicles (+68.6 bn compared with +100.9 bn), but rose for chemicals (+53.6 bn compared with +51.0 bn).

EU27 trade flows with all of its major partners fell. The largest decreases were recorded for exports to Russia (-40% in January-August 2009 compared with January-August 2008), Turkey (-28%), South Korea and Brazil (both -23%), the USA and Norway (both -20%), and for imports from Russia (-43%), Norway (-31%), Japan (-29%), Brazil (-28%) and Turkey (-26%).

The EU27 trade surplus fell with the USA (+26.1 bn euro in January-August 2009 compared with +42.6 bn in January-August 2008) and Switzerland (+8.6 bn compared with +12.2 bn). The EU27 trade deficit decreased with China (-86.4 bn compared with -102.5 bn), Russia (-29.1 bn compared with -55.2 bn), Norway (-21.9 bn compared with -36.5 bn) and Japan (-13.0 bn compared with -22.9 bn).

Concerning the total trade of Member States, the largest surplus was observed in Germany (+81.3 bn euro in January-August 2009), followed by Ireland (+25.9 bn) and the Netherlands (+23.2 bn). The United Kingdom (-61.3 bn) registered the largest deficit, followed by France (-34.5 bn), Spain (-31.4 bn), Greece (-19.0 bn) and Portugal (-11.6 bn).

  • Permalink: Euro area external trade surplus 3.7 bn euro and 11.2 bn euro deficit for EU27
  • You may also like...

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *