EU trade deficit of EUR 35bn with Africa in 2006

06 December 2007
by eub2 -- last modified 06 December 2007

On the occasion of the second EU-Africa Summit, which takes place on 8-9 December 2007 in Lisbon, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, issues data on trade in goods between the 27 Member States of the EU and 53 African countries.

Between 2000 and 2006, EU27 exports of goods to Africa¹ rose from 66 billion euro to 92 bn, while imports increased from 85 bn to 126 bn. The EU27 deficit in trade with Africa rose from 19 bn in 2000 to 35 bn in 2006, corresponding to 18% of the total EU27 external trade deficit. Africa accounted for around 9% of the EU27's total external trade in goods in 2006.

Italy and France are main EU trade partners of Africa

Among the EU27 Member States, France (21 bn euro, or 23% of the total) was the largest exporter to Africa in 2006, followed by Germany (16 bn or 18%) and Italy (13 bn or 14%). Italy (31 bn or 25%) was the largest importer, followed by Spain (21 bn or 17%) and France (20 bn or 16%).

The largest surpluses in trade with Africa were recorded by Sweden (+2 bn euro), France and Finland
(+1 bn each), while the highest deficits were registered by Italy (-19 bn), Spain (-14 bn) and the United Kingdom
(-5 bn).

South Africa, Algeria and Libya are main African trade partners of the EU

Among the African countries, South Africa (20 bn euro, or 22% of the total) was the leading destination for EU27 exports in 2006, followed by Morocco and Algeria (both 10 bn or 11%). The leading source of EU27 imports from Africa was Libya (26 bn or 21%), followed by Algeria (24 bn or 19%) and South Africa (19 bn or 15%).

The largest EU27 surpluses in trade with Africa were recorded with Morocco (+3 bn), South Africa, Egypt, Sudan, Senegal and Tunisia (all between +1 bn and +1.5 bn) and the highest deficits with Libya (-22 bn), Algeria (-14 bn) and Nigeria (-4 bn).

Machinery and vehicles account for nearly half of EU27 exports to Africa, energy for half of imports

Nearly half of EU27 exports to Africa in 2006 were machinery and vehicles², and a further quarter were other manufactured articles². Energy accounted for just over half of imports. At the detailed level, the main EU27 exports to Africa were mobile phones, medicine and motor cars, while the main imports were oil and gas, diamonds and cocoa beans.

EU27 Member States trade with Africa

million euro

EU27 trade with Africa by product

million euro

EU27 trade with African countries

million euro

1. Africa includes the 53 African countries participating in the Summit.
2. Machinery and vehicles includes power generating and industrial machinery, computers, electric and electronic parts and equipment, road vehicles and parts, ships, airplanes and railway equipment.

Other manufactured articles include leather, rubber, wood, paper, textiles, metals, building fixtures and fittings, furniture, clothes, shoes and accessories, scientific instruments, clocks, watches and cameras.

Source: Eurostat