A cargo ship docked at the port.

In 2024, the EU exported goods worth €213.3 billion to China and imported €517.8 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of €304.5 billion. 

China was the EU’s largest trade partner for imports (21.3% of all extra-EU imports) and the third-largest partner for exports (8.3% of all extra-EU exports).

Compared with 2023, both imports and exports decreased, by 0.5% and 4.5%, respectively.

Between 2014 and 2024, imports from China increased by 101.9%, while exports grew by 47.0%.

EU trade with China, 2014-2024, € billion. Chart. See link to the full dataset below.

Source dataset: ext_st_eu27_2020sitc 

In 2024, the most imported products from China were electrical machinery, appliances and electrical parts (valued at €96.8 billion); telecommunications and audio equipment (€60.9 billion) and office machines and data-processing machines, such as personal computers, servers and others (€45.9 billion), as classified under the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) divisions. Together, these 3 divisions accounted for 39.3% of all imports from China.

Top imported goods from China to the EU, 2024, € billion. Chart. See link to the full dataset below.

Source dataset: ds-059331

For more information

Methodological note

Data is categorised according to the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC). Full names of the divisions shown in this news article are:

77 - Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, not elsewhere specified, and electrical parts thereof (including non-electrical counterparts, not elsewhere specified, of electrical household-type equipment);
76 - Telecommunications and sound-recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment; 
75 - Office machines and automatic data-processing machines;
89 - Miscellaneous manufactured articles, not elsewhere specified;
74 - General industrial machinery and equipment, not elsewhere specified, and machine parts, not elsewhere specified;
78 - Road vehicles (including air-cushion vehicles);
84 - Articles of apparel and clothing accessories;
51 - Organic chemicals;
69 - Manufactures of metals, not elsewhere specified;
82 - Furniture and parts thereof; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings.

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