The first estimate for the euro area (EA13) trade balance with the rest of the world in January 2007 gave a 7.8 bn euro deficit compared with -9.9 bn in January 2006. The December 2006 balance was +3.2 bn, compared with -1.4 bn in December 2005. In January 2007 compared with December 2006, exports, seasonally adjusted, fell by 0.4% while imports rose by 0.2%.



The first estimate for January 2007 extra-EU27 trade was a deficit of 26.2 bn euro, the same as in January 2006. In December 2006, the balance was -9.4 bn, compared with -11.2 bn in December 2005. In January 2007 compared with December 2006, exports, seasonally adjusted, fell by 2.2% and imports by 0.7%.

EU27 2006 detailed results

The energy deficit grew strongly (-282.2 bn euro in 2006 compared with -226.7 bn in 2005), while the surpluses rose in the chemicals sector (+75.1 bn compared with +68.4 bn) and for machinery and vehicles (+102.7 bn compared with +91.8 bn).

EU27 trade flows with its major partners grew. The most notable increases were for exports to Russia (+27% in 2006 compared with 2005), China (+22%), India (+14%), Norway and South Korea (both +13%), and for imports from Russia (+25%), China (+21%), India and Norway (both +18%).

The EU27 trade surplus with the USA increased (+91.3 bn euro in 2006 compared with +89.0 bn in 2005), but decreased with Switzerland (+15.2 bn compared with +16.0 bn). The EU27 trade deficit grew with China (-130.5 bn compared with -108.5 bn), Russia (-68.2 bn compared with -55.7 bn), Norway (-40.8 bn compared with -33.3 bn), Japan (-32.1 bn compared with -30.4 bn) and South Korea (-16.0 bn compared to -14.2 bn).

Concerning the total trade of Member States, the largest surplus was observed in Germany (+161.9 bn euro in 2006), followed by the Netherlands (+36.8 bn), Ireland (+31.7 bn) and Sweden (+16.7 bn). The United Kingdom (-128.0 bn) registered the largest deficit, followed by Spain (-88.4 bn), France (-35.6 bn), Greece (-33.7 bn) and Italy (-21.4 bn).