Goods trade with ASEAN countries rebounds from 2009 to 2010; EU trade deficit rises by nearly 30 % - Issue number 47/2011 - Products Statistics in Focus

EU-27 trade and investment with ASEAN countries

The EU has recorded deficits in trade in goods with the 10 ASEAN countries since 2000. In 2010 the deficit was EUR 26 billion, a substantial rise compared with the previous year. The main products imported from the ASEAN countries include electronic equipment, covering computers and consumer items, clothing and footwear, pharmaceuticals, crude rubber, palm oil and furniture. The EU exported mainly machinery and transport equipment including aircraft, alongside pharmaceuticals and medical equipment to ASEAN countries. For trade in services, the EU has been in surplus from 2005 to 2009, recording EUR 2 billion in 2009. Of the major ASEAN partner countries, only with Thailand the EU did record a deficit in that year. In 2009, EU foreign direct investment (FDI) outflows declined sharply while inflows were little changed. FDI stocks grew in 2009. Singapore is the main investment partner.