STAT/06/65
22 May 2006
March 2006 Euro area external trade surplus 1.2 bn euro 12.1 bn euro deficit for EU25
The first estimate for the euro area1 trade balance with the rest of the world in March 2006 gave a 1.2 bn euro surplus compared with +4.0 bn in March 2005. The February 20062 balance was -3.1 bn, compared with +3.4 bn in February 2005. In March 2006 compared with February 2006, exports, seasonally adjusted, rose by 1.2% while imports fell by 1.5%.
The first estimate for March 2006 extra-EU25 trade was a 12.1 bn euro deficit, compared with -6.5 bn in March 2005. In February 20062, the balance was -15.2 bn, compared with -6.8 bn in February 2005. In March 2006 compared with February 2006, exports, seasonally adjusted, rose by 0.7% while imports fell by 1.7%.
These data are released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.
EU25 January-February 2006 detailed results
The energy deficit grew strongly (-48.7 bn euro in January-February 2006 compared with -29.1 bn in January-February 2005), while the surplus in the chemicals sector rose (+11.2 bn compared with +8.8 bn). The surplus for machinery and vehicles increased slightly (+12.4 bn compared with +11.4 bn).
EU25 trade flows with its major partners grew. The most notable increases were for exports to Russia (+27% in January-February 2006 compared to January-February 2005), China and Turkey (both +26%) and Canada (+25%), and for imports from Russia (+52%), Norway (+41%), China (+32%), Canada (+30%), India (+27%) and South Korea (+25%).
The EU25 trade surplus increased slightly with the USA (+13.1 bn euro in January-February 2006 compared with +11.9 bn in January-February 2005) and remained nearly stable with Switzerland (+2.5 bn compared with +2.7 bn). The EU25 trade deficit grew strongly with China (-20.7 bn compared with -15.5 bn), Russia (-13.5 bn compared with -7.7 bn) and Norway (-7.9 bn compared with -4.7 bn) and slightly with Japan (-4.7 bn compared with -4.1 bn).
Concerning the total trade of Member States, the largest surplus was observed in Germany (+24.9 bn euro in January-February 2006), followed by the Netherlands (+5.5 bn), Ireland (+4.5 bn) and Sweden (+2.9 bn). The United Kingdom (-18.0 bn) registered the largest deficit, followed by Spain (-13.0 bn), Italy (-7.1 bn), France (-6.8 bn) and Greece (-5.0 bn).
Euro area trade - non seasonally adjusted databn euro
Flows Mar 06 Mar 05 Growth Feb 06 Feb 05 Growth Jan-Mar 06 Jan-Mar 05 Growth Extra-euro area exports 120.6 103.0 17% 104.8 r 91.1 15% r 325.6 281.4 16% Extra-euro area imports 119.3 99.0 21% 107.9 r 87.7 23% r 337.2 275.6 22% Extra-euro area trade balance 1.2 4.0 -3.1 3.4 -11.6 5.8 Intra-euro area dispatches 124.1 111.2 12% 109.8 r 99.0 11% 341.6 305.0 12% EU25 trade - non seasonally adjusted databn euro
Flows Mar 06 Mar 05 Growth Feb 06 Feb 05 Growth Jan-Mar 06 Jan-Mar 05 Growth Extra-EU25 exports 103.2 87.4 18% 89.6 r 75.8 18% r 276.7 235.0 18% Extra-EU25 imports 115.3 93.9 23% 104.7 r 82.7 r 27% r 328.9 262.2 25% Extra-EU25 trade balance -12.1 -6.5 -15.2 r -6.8 r -52.2 -27.3 Intra-EU25 dispatches 215.7 187.1 15% 188.9 r 168.0 12% 589.9 516.1 14% r: Revised
Euro area: Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland. The first estimates for February 2006 were -3.1 bn euro for the euro area and -15.0 bn for the EU25. See News Release 49/2006 issued on 25 April 2006. This News Release is based on data available on 15 May 2006. These are provisional figures based on information provided by Member States. They are subject to frequent revision for up to two years after the month in question. Furthermore, national concepts may differ from the harmonised methodology used by Eurostat, leading to differences between figures in this release and those published nationally, both for raw data and for seasonally adjusted series. Since the introduction of Intrastat for intra-EU trade on 1 January 1993, the value of dispatches has been consistently higher than that of arrivals. In theory, as dispatches are declared FOB and arrivals CIF, the value of arrivals should be slightly higher than that of dispatches. Eurostat uses dispatches as the more reliable measure of total intra-EU trade as, at aggregated levels, total dispatches has better coverage than total arrivals. Due to this divergence in intra-EU trade, and to the difficulties of interpreting figures in absolute terms at the level of individual Member States, trade balances for individual Member States must be interpreted with caution. The same caution applies to the trade balance of the euro area, which includes some intra-EU trade. The next News Release including revised data for March 2006 and first estimates for April 2006 will be issued on 19 June 2006. Issued 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.eu For further information on data: Anne BERTHOMIEU Tel: +352-4301-33 616 Karo NUORTILA Tel: +352-4301-34 802 Fax: +352-4301-34 339 estat-etfree@ec.europa.eu Eurostat news releases on the Internet: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ Euro area trade - previous 6 months - non seasonally adjusted databn euro
Flows Jan 06 Dec 05 Nov 05 Oct 05 Sept 05 Aug 05 Extra-euro area exports 100.2 r 109.3 113.6 108.7 110.9 98.1 Extra-euro area imports 109.9 r 110.0 114.8 108.6 109.0 100.4 Extra-euro area trade balance -9.7 r -0.7 -1.2 0.1 2.0 -2.3 Intra-euro area dispatches 107.7 r 104.7 r 115.8 109.4 111.6 86.8 EU25 trade - previous 6 months - non seasonally adjusted databn euro
Flows Jan 06 Dec 05 Nov 05 Oct 05 Sept 05 Aug 05 Extra-EU25 exports 83.9 r 98.2 r 97.2 94.7 r 97.0 r 86.8 Extra-EU25 imports 108.8 r 107.1 111.5 105.7 106.0 r 101.0 r Extra-EU25 trade balance -24.9 r -8.9 -14.4 -11.0 -8.9 r -14.2 r Intra-EU25 dispatches 185.3 r 179.6 r 201.0 r 190.1 r 193.2 r 155.5 r r: Revised
Main products – Euro area - non seasonally adjusted databn euro
Euro area exports Euro area imports Trade balance Jan-Feb 06 Jan-Feb 05 Growth Jan-Feb 06 Jan-Feb 05 Growth Jan-Feb 06 Jan-Feb 05 Primary products: 24.8 18.8 32% 69.6 48.0 45% -44.7 -29.2 Food & drink 12.1 10.5 15% 10.7 9.1 17% 1.4 1.4 Crude materials 4.8 3.8 27% 9.1 8.0 14% -4.2 -4.2 Energy 7.9 4.4 78% 49.8 30.9 61% -41.9 -26.5 Manufactured goods: 175.5 155.2 13% 145.3 125.8 15% 30.2 29.4 Chemicals 32.4 28.3 14% 20.4 18.6 10% 12.0 9.7 Machinery & vehicles 90.3 79.5 14% 71.2 60.5 18% 19.1 19.0 Other manuf’d articles 52.9 47.3 12% 53.7 46.7 15% -0.8 0.6 Other 4.6 4.5 4% 3.0 2.8 8% 1.7 1.7 Total 205.0 178.4 15% 217.8 176.6 23% -12.8 1.8 Main products - EU25 - non seasonally adjusted databn euro
EU25 exports EU25 imports Trade balance Jan-Feb 06 Jan-Feb 05 Growth Jan-Feb 06 Jan-Feb 05 Growth Jan-Feb 06 Jan-Feb 05 Primary products: 20.5 15.6 32% 75.7 50.9 49% -55.2 -35.4 Food & drink 8.5 7.4 15% 10.4 8.9 17% -1.9 -1.5 Crude materials 4.3 3.2 37% 9.0 8.0 13% -4.6 -4.8 Energy 7.7 5.0 55% 56.4 34.1 65% -48.7 -29.1 Manufactured goods: 148.3 127.9 16% 133.8 113.9 18% 14.4 14.0 Chemicals 28.3 23.9 18% 17.1 15.1 14% 11.2 8.8 Machinery & vehicles 75.2 64.3 17% 62.8 52.9 19% 12.4 11.4 Other manuf’d articles 44.7 39.7 13% 53.9 45.9 18% -9.2 -6.2 Other 4.7 4.2 12% 4.0 3.5 14% 0.7 0.7 Total 173.5 147.6 18% 213.6 168.3 27% -40.1 -20.7 Main trading partners – Euro area - non seasonally adjusted data bn euro
Euro area exports to Euro area imports from Trade balance Jan-Feb 06 Jan-Feb 05 Growth Jan-Feb 06 Jan-Feb 05 Growth Jan-Feb 06 Jan-Feb 05 United Kingdom 33.9 32.0 6% 25.5 22.5 13% 8.4 9.5 United States 30.7 27.0 14% 20.5 18.0 14% 10.2 8.9 China 7.4 6.0 25% 22.3 16.9 33% -14.9 -10.9 Russia 6.9 5.5 25% 15.5 10.5 48% -8.6 -4.9 Switzerland 11.7 10.9 7% 9.5 8.5 12% 2.1 2.4 Japan 5.8 5.4 8% 9.0 8.1 12% -3.2 -2.7 Sweden 7.4 6.9 7% 7.4 6.4 16% 0.0 0.6 Poland 8.3 6.3 31% 6.1 4.8 25% 2.2 1.5 Czech Republic 6.0 5.0 20% 5.8 4.7 24% 0.2 0.3 Norway 2.7 2.3 17% 7.7 5.2 48% -5.0 -2.9 Main trading partners - EU25 - non seasonally adjusted databn euro
EU25 exports to EU25 imports from Trade balance Jan-Feb 06 Jan-Feb 05 Growth Jan-Feb 06 Jan-Feb 05 Growth Jan-Feb 06 Jan-Feb 05 United States 41.1 36.0 14% 27.9 24.2 16% 13.1 11.9 China 8.8 7.0 26% 29.5 22.4 32% -20.7 -15.5 Russia 9.0 7.1 27% 22.5 14.8 52% -13.5 -7.7 Switzerland 13.6 12.4 10% 11.1 9.7 14% 2.5 2.7 Japan 7.4 6.8 9% 12.1 10.9 11% -4.7 -4.1 Norway 5.6 4.9 15% 13.5 9.6 41% -7.9 -4.7 Turkey 6.7 5.3 26% 5.7 5.2 10% 1.0 0.1 South Korea 3.3 2.8 18% 5.9 4.7 25% -2.5 -1.9 India 3.7 3.1 18% 3.8 3.0 27% -0.1 0.2 Canada 4.0 3.2 25% 3.0 2.3 30% 1.0 0.9 Member States’ total trade (intra-EU25 + extra-EU25) - non seasonally adjusted databn euro
Total exports Total imports Trade balance Jan-Feb 06 Jan-Feb 05 Growth Jan-Feb 06 Jan-Feb 05 Growth Jan-Feb 06 Jan-Feb 05 Belgium 46.5 40.5 15% 45.8 39.8 15% 0.8 0.7 Czech Republic 11.3 9.4 21% 10.7 8.7 22% 0.6 0.6 Denmark 11.5 10.0 15% 10.9 8.8 24% 0.5 1.1 Germany 137.1 119.3 15% 112.2 92.7 21% 24.9 26.6 Estonia 1.0 0.8 25% 1.4 1.0 39% -0.4 -0.2 Greece 2.4 1.9 24% 7.3 6.4 15% -5.0 -4.5 Spain 26.7 22.9 17% 39.7 33.1 20% -13.0 -10.2 France 61.1 55.8 9% 67.8 60.6 12% -6.8 -4.8 Ireland 13.9 13.1 6% 9.5 8.4 13% 4.5 4.7 Italy 46.0 40.7 13% 53.1 44.3 20% -7.1 -3.7 Cyprus 0.2 0.1 16% 0.8 0.7 23% -0.7 -0.5 Latvia 0.7 0.6 16% 1.1 0.9 29% -0.5 -0.3 Lithuania 1.6 1.2 30% 2.0 1.5 32% -0.4 -0.3 Luxembourg 2.9 2.1 36% 3.3 2.6 30% -0.5 -0.5 Hungary 8.4 7.1 19% 8.9 7.5 19% -0.5 -0.4 Malta 0.3 0.3 15% 0.5 0.4 10% -0.2 -0.2 Netherlands 56.1 48.4 16% 50.5 42.6 19% 5.5 5.8 Austria 15.9 14.5 10% 16.5 14.6 13% -0.5 0.0 Poland 12.6 10.6 19% 13.8 11.6 19% -1.2 -1.0 Portugal 5.2 4.9 5% 8.0 7.5 8% -2.9 -2.6 Slovenia 2.7 2.2 23% 2.7 2.3 19% 0.0 -0.1 Slovakia 4.4 3.6 24% 5.1 3.8 33% -0.7 -0.2 Finland 8.8 8.1 8% 8.1 7.1 14% 0.7 1.0 Sweden 17.9 15.7 14% 15.1 13.3 13% 2.9 2.5 United Kingdom 52.4 42.9 22% 70.5 59.8 18% -18.0 -17.0 Annex - Seasonally adjusted data
Seasonally adjusted series have been calculated using one harmonised methodology. The seasonally adjusted series give a complementary view of the monthly evolution of trade. Seasonally adjusted figures may not match those published by Member States, due to differences in the raw data3, in the choice of seasonal adjustment model and to the use of series in national currency or in euro.
Euro area trade - seasonally adjusted databn euro
Flows Mar 06 Feb 06 Jan 06 Dec 05 Nov 05 Oct 05 Growth Mar/Feb Growth Feb/Jan Growth Jan/Dec Growth Dec/Nov Growth Nov/Oct Extra-euro area exports 111.4 110.0 110.3 110.1 108.5 104.4 1.2% -0.2% 0.2% 1.4% 3.9% Extra-euro area imports 111.1 112.8 111.4 112.3 107.4 105.8 -1.5% 1.3% -0.9% 4.6% 1.5% Extra-euro area trade balance 0.3 -2.8 -1.1 -2.3 1.1 -1.4 Intra-euro area dispatches 109.8 110.7 109.9 109.0 108.8 106.3 -0.8% 0.7% 0.9% 0.2% 2.4% EU25 trade - seasonally adjusted databn euro
Flows Mar 06 Feb 06 Jan 06 Dec 05 Nov 05 Oct 05 Growth Mar/Feb Growth Feb/Jan Growth Jan/Dec Growth Dec/Nov Growth Nov/Oct Extra-EU25 exports 96.5 95.8 95.3 96.1 93.9 91.1 0.7% 0.6% -0.8% 2.3% 3.0% Extra-EU25 imports 108.8 110.7 109.3 110.2 105.3 103.1 -1.7% 1.2% -0.8% 4.7% 2.1% Extra-EU25 trade balance -12.2 -14.8 -14.0 -14.2 -11.4 -12.0 Intra-EU25 dispatches 192.1 191.8 191.3 189.2 187.6 183.3 0.2% 0.3% 1.1% 0.8% 2.4% Contribution of EU25 Member States to extra-EU25 trade - seasonally adjusted databn euro
Total exports Total imports Trade balance Mar 06 Feb 06 Growth Mar 06 Feb 06 Growth Mar 06 Feb 06 EU25 96.5 95.8 0.7% 108.8 110.7 -1.7% -12.2 -14.8 Belgium 5.1 5.4 -4.6% 6.2 6.2 -1.0% -1.1 -0.9 Czech Republic 1.0 1.0 1.7% 1.2 1.1 0.4% -0.1 -0.1 Denmark 1.5 1.7 -9.9% 1.6 1.6 -0.5% -0.1 0.1 Germany 26.2 26.4 -0.4% 22.4 23.3 -3.6% 3.8 3.1 Estonia 0.2 0.2 -27.2% 0.2 0.2 -4.7% 0.0 0.0 Greece 0.7 0.6 5.5% 1.8 1.7 3.4% -1.1 -1.1 Spain 4.1 4.1 1.7% 8.0 8.1 -1.7% -3.8 -4.0 France 11.8 11.6 1.6% 10.5 10.8 -3.4% 1.3 0.8 Ireland 2.8 2.5 8.1% 1.6 1.7 -7.7% 1.2 0.8 Italy 11.2 11.0 1.9% 12.5 12.8 -2.9% -1.3 -1.8 Cyprus 0.0 0.0 10.0% 0.1 0.2 -14.6% -0.1 -0.1 Latvia 0.1 0.1 13.1% 0.2 0.2 -2.2% 0.0 -0.1 Lithuania 0.3 0.3 -3.8% 0.5 0.5 5.9% -0.2 -0.2 Luxembourg 0.2 0.2 -10.3% 0.6 0.5 8.5% -0.4 -0.4 Hungary 1.2 1.2 1.2% 1.6 1.6 1.6% -0.5 -0.5 Malta 0.1 0.1 35.5% 0.1 0.1 -17.7% 0.0 0.0 Netherlands 6.2 6.1 1.1% 13.1 13.0 1.0% -6.9 -6.9 Austria 2.7 2.5 9.9% 1.8 1.9 -3.3% 0.9 0.6 Poland 1.6 1.6 3.5% 2.1 2.2 -3.4% -0.5 -0.6 Portugal 0.6 0.6 7.0% 1.1 1.1 1.1% -0.5 -0.5 Slovenia 0.5 0.5 5.9% 0.4 0.4 -6.9% 0.1 0.1 Slovakia 0.4 0.4 -1.4% 0.7 0.7 -1.2% -0.3 -0.3 Finland 2.2 2.0 10.7% 1.6 1.5 9.9% 0.6 0.6 Sweden 3.9 3.8 2.2% 2.3 2.4 -1.2% 1.6 1.5 United Kingdom 11.8 12.0 -1.6% 16.7 16.8 -1.1% -4.8 -4.8 Seasonally adjusted data [Graphic in PDF & Word format] [Graphic in PDF & Word format]
