Home Economy Euro area international trade in goods surplus €2.9bn

Euro area international trade in goods surplus €2.9bn

In April 2020, the COVID-19 containment measures widely introduced by the Member States continued to have a significant impact on international trade in goods. The first estimate for euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world in April 2020 was €136.6 billion, a decrease of 29.3% compared with April 2019 (€193.3 bn). Imports from the rest of the world stood at €133.7 bn, a fall of 24.8% compared with April 2019 (€177.8 bn). As a result, the euro area recorded a €2.9 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in April 2020, compared with +€15.5 bn in April 2019. Intra-euro area trade fell to €112.4 bn in April 2020, down by 32.2% compared with April 2019.

In January to April 2020, euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world fell to €703.3 bn (a decrease of 8.6% compared with January-April 2019), and imports fell to €646.3 bn (a decrease of 9.3% compared with January-April 2019). As a result the euro area recorded a surplus of €57.0 bn, compared with +€57.2 bn in January-April 2019. Intra-euro area trade fell to €595.4 bn in January-April 2020, down by 11.1% compared with January-April 2019.

Euro area trade – non seasonally adjusted data                                                                                bn €

FlowsApr 19Apr 20GrowthJan-Apr 19Jan-Apr 20Growth
Extra-EA exports193.3136.6-29.3%769.5703.3-8.6%
Extra-EA imports177.8133.7-24.8%712.2646.3-9.3%
Extra-EA trade balance15.52.957.257.0
Intra-EA trade165.7112.4-32.2%669.7595.4-11.1%
Source dataset: ext_st_ea19sitc

European Union

The first estimate for extra-EU exports of goods in April 2020 was €125.4 billion, down by 28.2% compared with April 2019 (€174.7 bn). Imports from the rest of the world stood at €125.1 bn, down by 22.7% compared with April 2019 (€161.8 bn). As a result, the EU recorded a €0.2 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in April 2020, compared with +€12.9 bn in April 2019. Intra-EU trade fell to €175.2 bn in April 2020, -32% compared with April 2019.

In January to April 2020, extra-EU exports of goods fell to €638.2 bn (a decrease of 8.3% compared with January-April 2019), and imports fell to €590.5 bn (a decrease of 9% compared with January-April 2019). As a result, the EU recorded a surplus of €47.7 bn, compared with +€46.9 bn in January-April 2019. Intra-EU trade fell to €931.7 bn in January-April 2020, -10.2% compared with January-April 2019.

EU trade – non seasonally adjusted data                                                                                            bn €

FlowsApr 19Apr 20GrowthJan-Apr 19Jan-Apr 20Growth
Extra-EU exports174.7125.4-28.2%695.9638.2-8.3%
Extra-EU imports161.8125.1-22.7%648.9590.5-9.0%
Extra-EU trade balance12.90.246.947.7
Intra-EU trade257.8175.2-32.0%1 037.0931.7-10.2%

 Source dataset: ext_st_eu27_2020sitc

Main products – EU                                                                                                                               bn €

Extra-EU exportsExtra-EU importsTrade balance
Jan-Apr 19Jan-Apr 20GrowthJan-Apr 19Jan-Apr 20GrowthJan-Apr 19Jan-Apr 20
Total695.9638.2-8.3%648.9590.5-9.0%46.947.7
Primary goods:105.797.8-7.5%191.1157.3-17.7%-85.4-59.4
Food & drink52.255.46.1%39.639.1-1.3%12.616.3
Raw materials19.117.6-7.9%27.727.3-1.4%-8.6-9.7
Energy34.424.9-27.6%123.890.9-26.6%-89.5-66.0
Manufactured goods:577.5526.8-8.8%448.2421.2-6.0%129.2105.6
Chemicals134.3145.98.6%79.782.23.1%54.663.7
Machinery & vehicles283.4241.3-14.9%209.4192.1-8.3%74.049.1
Other manuf’d goods159.7139.6-12.6%159.1146.8-7.7%0.6-7.2
Other12.713.67.1%9.612.025.0%3.11.6

 Source dataset: ext_st_eu27_2020sitc

Main trading partners – EU                                                                                                                   bn €

EU exports toEU imports fromTrade balance
Jan-Apr 19Jan-Apr 20GrowthJan-Apr 19Jan-Apr 20GrowthJan-Apr 19Jan-Apr 20
United States125.0120.9-3.3%77.676.8-1.0%47.444.0
China64.060.4-5.6%115.9113.7-1.9%-51.9-53.3
United Kingdom112.691.1-19.1%66.858.0-13.2%45.833.1
Switzerland48.847.3-3.1%35.237.87.4%13.69.6
Russia26.925.9-3.7%51.737.8-26.9%-24.8-11.9
Turkey21.722.11.8%23.820.6-13.4%-2.21.6
Japan19.818.9-4.5%21.919.8-9.6%-2.1-0.9
Norway17.215.6-9.3%19.515.5-20.5%-2.30.2
South Korea14.215.27.0%15.815.2-3.8%-1.60.0
India12.510.1-19.2%14.312.6-11.9%-1.7-2.5