(LUXEMBOURG) – First estimates for March show a surplus in international trade in goods for the Eurozone of EUR 28.6 bn and a EUR 7.2 bn surplus for the whole EU, according to Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office.
Exports of goods to the rest of the world in March 2016 were estimated at EUR 177.8 billion, showing a decrease of 3 per cent compared with March last year (EUR 182.8 bn).
Imports from the rest of the world stood at EUR 149.2 bn, a fall of 8% compared with March 2015 (EUR 162.9 bn). As a result, the euro area recorded a EUR 28.6 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in March 2016, compared with +EUR 19.9 bn in March 2015.
Intra-euro area trade fell to EUR 149.3 bn in March 2016, down by 2% compared with March 2015.
In January to March 2016, euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world fell to 485.8 bn (a decrease of 1% compared with January-March 2015) and imports fell to 432.0 bn (a decrease of 3% compared with January-March 2015). As a result the euro area recorded a surplus of 53.9 bn, compared with +46.8 bn in January-March 2015. Intra-euro area trade remained nearly stable at 422.1 bn in January-March 2016.
EU as a whole
The first estimate for extra-EU28 exports of goods in March 2016 was 150.7 billion, down by 7% compared with March 2015 (162.4 bn). Imports from the rest of the world stood at 143.5 bn, down by 8% compared with March 2015 (155.7 bn). As a result, the EU28 recorded a 7.2 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in March 2016, compared with +6.7 bn in March 2015. Intra-EU28 trade fell to 270.9 bn in March 2016, -2% compared with March 2015.
In January to March 2016, extra-EU28 exports of goods fell to 409.1 bn (a decrease of 4% compared with January-March 2015) and imports fell to 409.9 bn (a decrease of 5% compared with January-March 2015). As a result, the EU28 recorded a deficit of 0.8 bn, compared with -3.5 bn in January-March 2015. Intra-EU28 trade rose to 767.1 bn in January-March 2016, +1% compared with January-March 2015.
