16 October 2019

Euro area international trade in goods surplus €14.7 bn

Imports from the rest of the world stood at €162.6 bn, a fall of 4.1% compared with August 2018 (€169.5 bn). As a result, the euro area recorded a €14.7 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in August 2019, compared with +€11.9 bn in August 2018. Intra-euro area trade fell to €133.7 bn in August 2019, down by 5.6% compared with August 2018.

In January to August 2019, euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world rose to €1 546.9 bn (an increase of 3.0% compared with January-August 2018), and imports rose to €1 407.9 bn (an increase of 2.7% compared with January-August 2018). As a result the euro area recorded a surplus of €139.0 bn, compared with +€132.0 bn in January-August 2018. Intra-euro area trade rose to €1 304.6 bn in January-August 2019, up by 1.2% compared with January-August 2018.

European Union

The first estimate for extra-EU28 exports of goods in August 2019 was €154.2 billion, down by 3.3% compared with August 2018 (€159.4 bn). Imports from the rest of the world stood at €166.3 bn, down by 0.6% compared with August 2018 (€167.3 bn). As a result, the EU28 recorded a €12.1 bn deficit in trade in goods with the rest of the world in August 2019, compared with -€7.9 bn in August 2018. Intra-EU28 trade fell to €253.1 bn in August 2019, down by 4.3% compared with August 2018. 

In January to August 2019, extra-EU28 exports of goods rose to €1 334.5 bn (an increase of 3.6% compared with January-August 2018), and imports rose to €1 357.6 bn (an increase of 4.6% compared with January-August 2018). As a result, the EU28 recorded a deficit of €23.1 bn, compared with -€10.3 bn in January-August 2018. Intra-EU28 trade rose to €2 368.9 bn in January-August 2019, +1.7% compared with January-August 2018.

Full press release

© Eurostat