The first estimate for the euro area (EA13) trade balance with the rest of the world in February 2007 gave a 1.7 bn euro deficit compared with -3.3 bn in February 2006. The January 2007 balance was -7.0 bn, compared with -9.9 bn in January 2006. In February 2007 compared with January 2007, exports, seasonally adjusted, rose by 0.6% and imports by 2.3%.



The first estimate for February 2007 extra-EU27 trade was a deficit of 17.6 bn euro, compared with -16.1 bn in February 2006. In January 2007, the balance was -26.0 bn, compared with -26.2 bn in January 2006. In February 2007 compared with January 2007, exports, seasonally adjusted, fell by 0.4% while imports rose by 1.2%.

EU27 January 2007 detailed results

The energy deficit decreased (-21.9 bn euro in January 2007 compared with -24.6 bn in January 2006), while the surpluses rose in the chemicals sector (+5.6 bn compared with +5.4 bn) and for machinery and vehicles (+4.4 bn compared with +3.2 bn).

EU27 exports to its major partners grew. The most notable increases were for exports to Russia (+26% in January 2007 compared with January 2006), India (+25%), Turkey (+17%) and South Korea (+16%). Imports from Brazil (+26% in January 2007 compared with January 2006), India (+25%), China (+23%) and Turkey (+18%) grew most strongly, while imports from Norway (-11%), South Korea (-5%) and Russia (-2%) fell.

The EU27 trade surplus with the USA decreased (+5.2 bn euro in January 2007 compared with +5.8 bn in January 2006), but increased with Switzerland (+1.2 bn compared with +1.0 bn). The EU27 trade deficit grew with China (-14.7 bn compared with -11.5 bn) and Japan (-3.0 bn compared with -2.7 bn), but decreased with Russia (-5.8 bn compared with -7.2 bn), Norway (-3.0 bn compared with -4.1 bn) and South Korea (-1.0 bn compared with -1.4 bn).

Concerning the total trade of Member States, the largest surplus was observed in Germany (+16.1 bn euro in January 2007), followed by the Netherlands (+2.9 bn) and Ireland (+2.0 bn). The United Kingdom (-11.2 bn) registered the largest deficit, followed by Spain (-7.6 bn), France (-3.8 bn), Italy (-3.7 bn) and Greece (-3.1 bn).