The first estimate for the euro area (EA17) trade balance with the rest of the world in January 2011 gave a 14.8 bn euro deficit, compared with -9.7 bn in January 2010. The December 2010 balance was -0.5 bn, compared with +3.2 bn in December 2009. In January 2011 compared with December 2010, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 3.6% and imports by 5.3%.

The first estimate for the January 2011 extra-EU27 trade balance was a 29.8 bn euro deficit, compared with -22.7 bn in January 2010. In December 20102 the balance was -10.9 bn, compared with -2.9 bn in December 2009. In January 2011 compared with December 2010, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 6.4% and imports by 4.8%.

These data are released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

EU27 2010 detailed results

The EU27 deficit increased for energy (-297.1 bn euro in 2010 compared with -240.2 bn in 2009), while the surplus for manufactured goods rose (+177.9 bn compared with +163.0 bn).

EU27 trade with all its major partners grew in 2010 compared with 2009. The most notable increases were recorded for exports to Brazil (+45%), Turkey (+39%) and China (+37%), and for imports from China and Russia (both +32%) and India (+30%).

The EU27 trade surplus increased with the USA (+73.1 bn euro in 2010 compared with +46.4 bn in 2009), Switzerland (+21.3 bn compared with +14.7 bn) and Turkey (+19.2 bn compared with +8.0 bn). The

EU27 trade deficit increased with China (-168.9 bn compared with -131.7 bn), Russia (-68.4 bn compared with -51.6 bn) and Norway (-37.3 bn compared with -31.4 bn). The deficit remained nearly stable with Japan (-21.1 bn compared with -20.7 bn) and stable with South Korea (-10.6 bn).

Concerning the total trade of Member States, the largest surplus was observed in Germany (+152.4 bn euro in 2010), followed by Ireland (+43.4 bn), the Netherlands (+42.3 bn) and Belgium (+16.4 bn). The United Kingdom (-115.5 bn) registered the largest deficit, followed by France (-64.1 bn), Spain (-51.8 bn), Italy (-27.3 bn), Greece (-22.4 bn), Portugal (-20.0 bn) and Poland (-13.5 bn).