STAT/06/68
24 May 2006
EU - Russia Summit An EU25 trade deficit of more than 50 bn euro with Russia in 2005 Russia third largest trading partner of EU25
Between 1999 and 2005, EU25 trade in goods with Russia more than tripled in value: exports rose from 16.6 billion euro to 56.4 bn, while imports increased from 34.3 bn to 106.7 bn. As a result, the EU25 deficit in trade with Russia increased from 17.6 bn in 1999 to 50.3 bn in 2005. This increased deficit was due to imports of energy, which rose from 17.6 bn in 1999 to 70.6 bn in 2005.
The share of Russia in the EU25's total external trade in goods has doubled between 1999 and 2005. In 2005, Russia accounted for just over 5% of EU25 exports and 9% of EU25 imports, and was the EU25's third most important trading partner, after the USA and China.
On the occasion of the European Union - Russia summit, which will take place on Thursday 25 May 2006 in Sochi in Russia, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, issues data on trade in goods between Russia and the 25 Member States of the EU.
Exports dominated by manufactured goods, imports by oil and gas
In 2005, EU25 exports of primary products to Russia amounted to 5.7 bn euro, and imports to 75.5 bn, resulting in a deficit of 69.8 bn. EU25 exports of manufactured goods to Russia were 49.5 bn, and imports 16.9 bn, with a surplus of 32.6 bn.
Half of EU25 exports to Russia in 2005 were machinery and vehicles1, while energy accounted for two thirds of imports. At the detailed level, the main EU25 exports to Russia were radio and telephone transmission equipment, medicine, motor cars, aircraft, computers and parts, and washing machines, while the main imports were oil, gas, coal and nickel.
Germany and Italy largest trading partners of Russia amongst Member States
Among the EU25 Member States, Germany was by far the largest exporter to Russia in 2005, with 17.2 bn euro, or 30% of the total, followed by Italy (6.1 bn or 11%) and Finland (6.0 bn or 11%). Germany (20.7 bn or 19%) was also the largest importer, followed by Italy (11.8 bn or 11%), and the Netherlands2 (10.8 bn or 10%).
Only five Member States recorded very small surpluses in trade with Russia in 2005, while the other twenty Member States registered deficits. The largest were observed in the Netherlands2 (-6.3 bn), Italy (-5.7 bn), the United Kingdom (-4.7 bn), France (-4.3 bn) and Spain (-4.0 bn).
EU25 and Member States trade with Russia
million euro
Exports Imports Balance 1999 2005 1999 2005 1999 2005 EU25 16 645 56 397 34 272 106 729 -17 627 -50 331 Belgium 636 1 986 1 022 4 156 -386 -2 169 Czech Republic 357 1 132 1 308 3 368 -951 -2 236 Denmark 379 962 280 752 98 210 Germany 5 057 17 155 8 077 20 720 -3 020 -3 565 Estonia 76 402 258 753 -183 -351 Greece 230 273 491 3 389 -261 -3 116 Spain 382 1 068 1 202 5 068 -820 -4 000 France 1 370 3 702 2 745 7 957 -1 376 -4 255 Ireland 259 237 9 59 250 178 Italy 1 724 6 064 4 211 11 789 -2 487 -5 725 Cyprus 6 16 83 46 -77 -30 Latvia 106 328 292 594 -186 -266 Lithuania 151 992 875 3 464 -724 -2 472 Luxembourg 16 61 5 41 11 20 Hungary 335 942 1 539 3 985 -1 203 -3 042 Malta 0 2 1 1 -1 1 Netherlands2 1 306 4 447 2 012 10 767 -706 -6 320 Austria 476 2 047 655 2 141 -179 -93 Poland 668 3 181 2 514 7 093 -1 847 -3 912 Portugal 13 79 187 374 -174 -296 Slovenia 122 592 150 341 -28 251 Slovakia 97 403 1 275 2 975 -1 178 -2 572 Finland 1 624 5 950 2 151 6 577 -528 -627 Sweden 468 1 712 782 2 950 -313 -1 238 United Kingdom 789 2 662 2 148 7 368 -1 360 -4 705 Total Extra-EU25 689 434 1 066 776 746 622 1 174 666 -57 188 -107 891 Russia / Total 2.4% 5.3% 4.6% 9.1% EU25 trade with Russia by product
million euro
Exports Imports Balance 1999 2005 1999 2005 1999 2005 Total 16 645 56 397 34 272 106 729 -17 627 -50 331 Primary products: 3 582 5 702 21 077 75 490 -17 494 -69 788 Food & drink 2 900 4 557 528 658 2 372 3 899 Crude materials 588 830 2 901 4 278 -2 313 -3 448 Energy 95 316 17 648 70 554 -17 553 -70 238 Manufactured goods: 12 628 49 544 8 866 16 894 3 761 32 649 Chemicals 2 052 8 201 1 820 3 642 232 4 559 Machinery & vehicles1 5 825 26 625 883 1 236 4 942 25 388 Other manuf’d articles1 4 750 14 718 6 163 12 017 -1 413 2 702 Other 435 1 151 4 329 14 344 -3 895 -13 192 Machinery and vehicles includes power generating and industrial machinery, computers, electric and electronic parts and equipment, road vehicles and parts, ships, airplanes and railway equipment.Other manufactured articles include leather, rubber, wood, paper, textiles, metals, building fixtures and fittings, furniture, clothes, shoes and accessories, scientific instruments, clocks, watches and cameras.
Dutch imports, and therefore the trade deficit, are over-estimated because of the “Rotterdam effect”, where goods destined for the rest of the EU arrive and are recorded in harmonised EU external trade statistics in Dutch ports. This then has a positive effect on the external trade balances with Russia of those Member States to which the goods are re-exported, as these shipments would be recorded as intra-EU trade with the Netherlands, rather than extra-EU trade with Russia. Published by: Eurostat Press Office Tim ALLEN BECH Building L-2920 LUXEMBOURG Tel: +352-4301-33 444 Fax: +352-4301-35 349 eurostat-pressoffice@ec.europa.euEurostat News Releases on the Internet: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ 
