The first estimate for the euro area (EA13) trade balance with the rest of the world in April 2007 gave a 1.8 bn euro surplus, compared with -2.7 bn in April 2006. The March 2007 balance was +7.6 bn, compared with +0.4 bn in March 2006. In April 2007 compared with March 2007, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 0.6% and imports by 2.2%.



The first estimate for April 2007 extra-EU27 trade was a deficit of 14.4 bn euro, compared with -16.5 bn in April 2006. In March 2007, the balance was -10.5 bn, compared with -13.7 bn in March 2006. In April 2007 compared with March 2007, seasonally adjusted exports fell by 1.7%, while imports rose by 0.1%.

EU27 January-March 2007 detailed results

The energy deficit decreased (-61.7 bn euro in January-March 2007 compared with -73.3 bn in January-March 2006), while the surpluses rose in the chemicals sector (+19.5 bn compared with +18.0 bn) and for machinery and vehicles (+24.7 bn compared with +20.8 bn).

EU27 trade with most of its major partners grew. The biggest increases were for exports to Russia (+28% in January-March 2007 compared with January-March 2006), India (+18%), Norway and South Korea (both +14%), and for imports from China (+25%), Brazil (+16%), Turkey (+15%) and India (+14%).

The EU27 trade surplus decreased with the USA (+18.5 bn euro in January-March 2007 compared with +21.6 bn in January-March 2006) and remained nearly stable with Switzerland (+3.6 bn compared with +3.7 bn). The EU27 trade deficit with China (-39.5 bn compared with -29.8 bn) and Japan (-8.6 bn compared with -7.8 bn) grew, but decreased with Russia (-14.1 bn compared with -20.6 bn), Norway (-8.1 bn compared with -11.9 bn) and South Korea (-3.4 bn compared to -3.8 bn).

Concerning the total trade of Member States, the largest surplus was observed in Germany (+48.5 bn euro in January-March 2007), followed by the Netherlands (+10.6 bn), Ireland (+7.1 bn), Belgium (+4.7 bn) and Sweden (+4.4 bn). The United Kingdom (-33.7 bn) registered the largest deficit, followed by Spain (-22.1 bn), Greece (-9.6 bn), France (-8.5 bn) and Italy (-5.7 bn).