The first estimate for the euro area (EA13) trade balance with the rest of the world in March 2007 gave a 7.4 bn euro surplus, compared with +0.6 bn in March 2006. The February 20072 balance was -1.3 bn, compared with -3.4 bn in February 2006. In March 2007 compared with February 2007, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 1.2%, while imports fell by 2.6%.



The first estimate for March 2007 extra-EU27 trade was a deficit of 11.1 bn euro, compared with -13.5 bn in March 2006. In February 2007, the balance was -17.6 bn, compared with -16.2 bn in February 2006. In March 2007 compared with February 2007, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 1.1%, while imports fell by 2.2%.

EU27 January-February 2007 detailed results

The energy deficit decreased (-42.4 bn euro in January-February 2007 compared with -48.5 bn in January-February 2006), while the surpluses rose in the chemicals sector (+11.8 bn compared with +10.8 bn) and for machinery and vehicles (+13.0 bn compared with +11.0 bn).

EU27 trade with most of its major partners grew. The biggest increases were for exports to Russia (+26% in January-February 2007 compared with January-February 2006), South Korea (+18%), India (+14%) and China (+13%), and for imports from China (+24%), Turkey (+21%), India (+18%) and Canada (+17%).

The EU27 trade surplus with the USA decreased (+10.7 bn euro in January-February 2007 compared with +13.1 bn in January-February 2006), but increased slightly with Switzerland (+2.4 bn compared with +2.3 bn). The EU27 trade deficit grew with China (-27.1 bn compared with -21.1 bn) and Japan (-5.4 bn compared with -4.8 bn), but decreased with Russia (-10.5 bn compared with -13.8 bn), Norway (-5.8 bn compared with -7.8 bn) and South Korea (-2.3 bn compared to -2.6 bn).

Concerning the total trade of Member States, the largest surplus was observed in Germany (+30.1 bn euro in January-February 2007), followed by the Netherlands (+6.3 bn), Ireland (+4.1 bn), Sweden (+2.7 bn) and Belgium (+2.6 bn). The United Kingdom (-22.2 bn) registered the largest deficit, followed by Spain (-14.4 bn), France (-7.0 bn), Greece (-6.4 bn) and Italy (-5.6 bn).