The first estimate for the euro area (EA13) trade balance with the rest of the world in September 2007 gave a 3.1 bn euro surplus, compared with +2.3 bn in September 2006. The August 2007 balance was +1.9 bn, compared with -5.4 bn in August 2006. In September 2007 compared with August 2007, seasonally adjusted exports fell by 0.4%, while imports rose by 0.1%.

The first estimate for September 2007 extra-EU27 trade was a deficit of 16.5 bn euro, compared with -14.7 bn in September 2006. In August 2007, the balance was -16.1 bn, compared with -22.5 bn in August 2006. In September 2007 compared with August 2007, seasonally adjusted exports fell by 1.1%, while imports remained stable.

The EU27 energy deficit decreased (-167.9 bn euro in January-August 2007 compared with -191.1 bn in January-August 2006), while the surpluses rose in the chemicals sector (+50.3 bn compared with +49.5 bn) and for machinery and vehicles (+81.9 bn compared with +59.1 bn).

EU27 trade with most of its major partners grew, with the exception of exports to the USA (-2% in January-August 2007 compared with January-August 2006), and imports from Norway (-9%) and Russia (-5%). The largest increases were for exports to Russia (+29%), India (+22%), Brazil (+17%) and China (+15%), and for imports from China (+22%), Brazil and India (both +17%) and Turkey (+14%).

The EU27 trade surplus with the USA fell (+52.5 bn euro in January-August 2007 compared with +58.2 bn in January-August 2006). The EU27 trade deficit grew with China (-100.8 bn compared with -80.2 bn) and Brazil (-7.2 bn compared with -6.1 bn), but decreased with Russia (-36.2 bn compared with -53.4 bn), Norway (-21.2 bn compared with -29.5 bn) and South Korea (-10.0 bn compared to -11.4 bn). The EU27 trade balances with Japan (-22.3 bn compared with -22.2 bn) and Switzerland (+10.2 bn compared with +9.9 bn) remained nearly stable.

Concerning the total trade of Member States, the largest surplus was observed in Germany (+128.9 bn euro in January-August 2007), followed by the Netherlands (+26.3 bn), Ireland (+20.6 bn), Sweden (+9.3 bn) and Belgium (+9.0 bn). The United Kingdom (-87.6 bn) registered the largest deficit, followed by Spain (-60.7 bn), France (-27.6 bn), Greece (-25.3 bn), Romania (-13.4 bn) and Portugal (-11.8 bn).