The first estimate for euro area (EA17) trade with the rest of the world in May 2011 was in balance, compared with a deficit of 4.9 bn euro in May 2010. The April 2011 balance was -4.8 bn, compared with -0.8 bn in April 2010. In May 2011 compared with April 2011, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 1.5% and imports by 0.2%.

The first estimate for the May 2011 extra-EU271 trade balance was a 13.2 bn euro deficit, compared with -16.0 bn in May 2010. In April 2011 the balance was -16.4 bn, compared with -12.0 bn in April 2010. In May 2011 compared with April 2011, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 1.1% and imports by 0.7%.

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

EU27 detailed results for January to April 2011

The EU27 deficit for energy increased significantly (-124.4 bn euro in January-April 2011 compared with -94.4 bn in January-April 2010), while the surplus for manufactured goods rose notably (+69.6 bn compared with +50.0 bn).

EU27 trade with all its major partners grew in January-April 2011 compared with January-April 2010. The highest increases were recorded for exports to Turkey (+42%), Russia (+37%), China (+27%) and South Korea (+26%), and for imports from Russia (+35%), India and Brazil (both +27%), Norway (+24%) and Turkey (+23%).

The EU27 trade surplus increased with the USA (+22.8 bn euro in January-April 2011 compared with +19.1 bn in January-April 2010), Switzerland (+8.6 bn compared with +6.1 bn) and Turkey (+8.4 bn compared with +4.2 bn). The EU27 trade deficit increased with China (-49.7 bn compared with -45.1 bn), Russia (-34.1 bn compared with
-25.8 bn), Norway (-16.9 bn compared with -12.8 bn) and Japan (-8.1 bn compared with -7.1 bn), but fell with South Korea (-1.9 bn compared with -3.8 bn).

Concerning the total trade of Member States, the largest surplus was observed in Germany (+51.3 bn euro in January-April 2011), followed by the Netherlands (+16.0 bn) and Ireland (+13.5 bn). The United Kingdom (-37.3 bn) registered the largest deficit, followed by France (-30.7 bn), Italy (-17.9 bn), Spain (-16.6 bn), Greece (-6.8 bn) and Portugal (-5.8 bn).