China and India play an increasing role in EU27 trade. China, which was the fourth trading partner of the EU27 in 2000, has since 2003 become the second trading partner after the USA. India, which was the 17th trading partner in 2000, ranked ninth in 2006.



On the occasion of the EU-China Summit, which will take place on Wednesday 28 November in Beijing, and the EU-India Summit, which will take place on Friday 30 November in New Delhi, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, issues the latest data available on trade and investments between China and the EU27 and India and the EU27.

Germany accounts for more than 40% of EU27 exports to China

Between 2000 and 2006, EU27 trade in goods with China grew by more than 150%, with exports increasing from 26 billion euro to 64 bn and imports from 75 bn to 195 bn. As a result the EU27 deficit in trade with China rose from 49 bn in 2000 to 131 bn in 2006. In 2006, China accounted for 6% of EU27 exports and 14% of EU27 imports.

Among the EU27 Member States, Germany (27 bn euro or 43% of the total) was by far the largest exporter to China in 2006, followed by France (8 bn or 13%) and Italy (6 bn or 9%). Germany (43 bn or 22%) was also the largest importer, followed by the Netherlands1 (31 bn or 16%) and the United Kingdom (29 bn or 15%). All Member States recorded trade deficits with China in 2006. The largest were observed in the Netherlands1 (-28 bn), the United Kingdom (-24 bn), Germany (-16 bn) and Italy (-12 bn).

More than half of EU27 exports to China in 2006 were machinery and vehicles2 and one fifth were other manufactured articles2, while these two groups accounted for nearly 95% of imports. At the detailed level, the main EU27 exports to China were aircraft and motor cars, while the main imports were computers and parts, mobile phones and digital cameras.

Germany, United Kingdom and Belgium main EU27 trading partners of India

Between 2000 and 2006, EU27 trade in goods with India grew by around 80%, with exports increasing from 14 bn euro to 25 bn and imports from 13 bn to 23 bn. As a result the EU27 deficit in trade with India rose from 1 bn in 2000 to 2 bn in 2006. In 2006, India accounted for 2.1% of EU27 exports and 1.7% of EU27 imports.

Among the EU27 Member States, Germany (6.3 bn euro or 26% of the total) was the largest exporter to India in 2006, followed by Belgium (4.6 bn or 19%) and the United Kingdom (4.0 bn or 16%). The United Kingdom (4.5 bn or 20%) was the largest importer, followed by Germany (3.9 bn or 17%), Belgium and Italy (3.0 bn or 13% each). The largest surplus in trade with India in 2006 was observed in Germany (+2.5 bn) and the largest deficit in Spain (-1.2 bn).

Around 80% of EU27 exports to India in 2006 were machinery and vehicles and other manufactured articles, while other manufactured articles accounted for more than 60% of imports. At the detailed level, the main EU27 exports to India were unworked diamonds and aircraft, while the main imports were worked diamonds and clothes.