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Imports from the rest of the world stood at €159.5 bn, a rise of 1.9% compared with December 2017 (€156.5 bn). As a result, the euro area recorded a €17.0 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in December 2018, compared with +€24.5 bn in December 2017. Intra-euro area trade fell to €142.6 bn in December 2018, down by 1.2% compared with December 2017.
In January to December 2018, euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world rose to €2 276.3 bn (an increase of 3.7% compared with January-December 2017), and imports rose to €2 082.1 bn (an increase of 6.2% compared with January-December 2017). As a result the euro area recorded a surplus of €194.2 bn, compared with +€234.9 bn in January-December 2017. Intra-euro area trade rose to €1 941.9 bn in January-December 2018, up by 5.2% compared with January-December 2017.
European Union
The first estimate for extra-EU28 exports of goods in December 2018 was €153.9 billion, down by 3.9% compared with December 2017 (€160.1 bn). Imports from the rest of the world stood at €153.2 bn, up by 4.3% compared with December 2017 (€146.9 bn). As a result, the EU28 recorded a €0.7 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in December 2018, compared with +€13.1 bn in December 2017. Intra-EU28 trade fell to €255.2 bn in December 2018, -1.5% compared with December 2017.