EU surplus €19.1 bn

Euro area

The first estimates of euro area balance showed a €21.2 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in July 2024, compared with €6.7 bn in July 2023.

The euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world in July 2024 were €252.0 bn, an increase of 10.2% compared with July 2023 (€228.6 bn). Imports from the rest of the world stood at €230.8 bn, a rise of 4.0% compared with July 2023 (€221.9 bn).

International trade in goods of the euro area

In July 2024 compared to June 2024, the euro area surplus decreased slightly from €21.7 bn to €21.2 bn. This was due to an increase in the deficit for energy (from €-22.6 bn to €-25.3 bn) and raw materials (from €-2.3 bn to €-2.8 bn) and a decrease in the surplus of other manufactured goods (from €+2.6 bn to €+1.0 bn), which was partially offset by the increase in the surplus of chemicals and related products (from €+20.7 bn to €+25.1 bn).

Euro area balance by product group

In January to July 2024, the euro area recorded a surplus of €127.7 bn, compared with €3.7 bn in January-July 2023. The euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world rose to €1 683.6 bn (an increase of 0.8% compared with January-July 2023), and imports fell to €1 555.8 bn (a decrease of 6.6% compared with January-July 2023). Intra-euro area trade fell to €1 528.7 bn in January-July 2024, down by 4.3% compared with January-July 2023.

Euro area trade - non seasonally adjusted data (bn €)

Flows

July 23

July 24

Growth rates

Jan-July 23

Jan-July 24

Growth rates

Extra-EA exports

228.6

252.0

10.2%

1 669.6

1 683.6

0.8%

Extra-EA imports

221.9

230.8

4.0%

1 665.9

1 555.8

-6.6%

Extra-EA trade balance

6.7

21.2

3.7

127.7

Intra-EA trade

211.8

221.0

4.3%

1 596.8

1 528.7

-4.3%

European Union

The EU balance showed a €19.1 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in July 2024, compared with €+4.9 bn in July 2023.

The extra-EU exports of goods in July 2024 were €230.2 bn, up by 11.6% compared with July 2023 (€206.4 bn). Imports from the rest of the world stood at €211.1 bn, up by 4.8% compared with July 2023 (€201.5 bn).

International trade in goods of the EU

When looking at the breakdown of the EU balance by product, the picture is similar to the graph of the euro area. In July 2024, compared to June 2024, the EU surplus decreased from €20.9 bn to €19.1 bn. This was due to an increase of deficit for energy (from €-26.7 bn to €-29.4 bn) and raw materials (from €-1.8 bn to €-2.4 bn), as well as a decrease in the surplus for machineries and vehicles (from €+21.8 bn to €+20.7 bn), and a decline in the balance for other manufactured goods (from a surplus of €1.9 bn in June 2024 to a deficit of €0.5 bn in July 2024). The overall decrease of EU balance was partially offset by the increase in the surplus of chemicals and related products (from €+19.1 bn to €+23.5 bn).

EU balance by product group

In January to July 2024, extra-EU exports of goods rose to €1 513.9 bn (an increase of 1.4% compared with January-July 2023), and imports fell to €1 399.6 bn (a decrease of 7.0% compared with January-July 2023). As a result, the EU recorded a surplus of €114.3 bn, compared with a deficit of €11.6 bn in January-July 2023.

Intra-EU trade fell to €2 384.1 bn in January-July 2024, -3.4% compared with January-July 2023.

EU trade - non seasonally adjusted data (bn €)

Flows

July 23

July 24

Growth rates

Jan-July 23

Jan-July 24

Growth rates

Extra-EU exports

206.4

230.2

11.6%

1 493.5

1 513.9

1.4%

Extra-EU imports

201.5

211.1

4.8%

1 505.1

1 399.6

-7.0%

Extra-EU trade balance

4.9

19.1

-11.6

114.3

Intra-EU trade

323.5

337.6

4.4%

2 467.2

2 384.1

-3.4%

Main products - EU

Bn €, monthly change compared to previous year

Extra-EU exports

Extra-EU imports

Trade balance

July 24

Growth rates

July 24

Growth rates

July 24

July 23

 Total

230.2

11.6%

211.1

4.8%

19.1

4.9

Primary goods:

36.0

11.5%

62.7

2.9%

-26.7

-28.7

 Food & drink

18.5

14.0%

13.3

19.8%

5.1

5.1

 Raw materials

5.9

12.7%

8.3

11.0%

-2.4

-2.3

 Energy

11.6

7.3%

41.0

-3.0%

-29.4

-31.5

Manufactured goods:

190.1

11.3%

146.4

5.4%

43.7

32.0

 Chemicals & related products

50.6

19.3%

27.1

10.9%

23.5

18.0

 Machinery & vehicles

89.0

6.6%

68.3

2.9%

20.7

17.1

 Other manuf’d goods

50.5

12.2%

51.0

6.1%

-0.5

-3.0

  Other

4.2

27.2%

2.1

22.1%

2.1

1.6

Main trading partners - EU

Bn €, monthly change compared to previous year

Exports

Import

Trade balance

July 24

Growth rates

July 24

Growth rates

July 24

July 23

United States

47.0

13.0%

27.6

-1.2%

19.4

13.7

China

18.9

3.9%

46.4

8.8%

-27.5

-24.5

United Kingdom

29.9

8.9%

14.2

-1.6%

15.7

13.1

Switzerland

16.2

8.6%

11.0

-0.3%

5.3

3.9

Türkiye

9.6

4.2%

8.5

13.7%

1.1

1.8

Norway

4.7

14.1%

9.0

2.5%

-4.2

-4.6

Japan

6.7

32.6%

4.8

-17.7%

1.9

-0.8

India

4.6

10.2%

6.3

18.7%

-1.8

-1.2

South Korea

5.0

21.2%

5.7

0.1%

-0.7

-1.6

Brazil

4.0

18.1%

4.5

33.4%

-0.5

0.0

Annex - Seasonally adjusted data

In July 2024 compared with June 2024, euro area seasonally adjusted exports increased by 0.8%, while imports increased by 1.6%. The seasonally adjusted balance was €+15.5 bn, a decrease compared with June (€+17.0 bn).

In July 2024 compared with June 2024, EU seasonally adjusted exports increased by 0.5%, while imports increased by 1.7%. The seasonally adjusted balance was €+12.8 bn, a decrease compared with June (€+15.2 bn).

In the latest three months of 2024, euro area seasonally adjusted exports decreased by 0.9% while imports increased by 0.1%, in comparison with February 2024-April 2024. Similarly, EU seasonally adjusted exports decreased by 0.7%, while imports increased by 0.9% in comparison with February 2024-April 2024. 

EA and EU trade - seasonally adjusted data - (bn €)

June 24

July 24

Growth rates

May 24 - July 24

Growth rates (compared to the previous three months)

Euro area

 

 

 

 

 

Extra-EA exports

237.1

239.0

0.8%

712.7

-0.9%

Extra-EA imports

220.1

223.5

1.6%

668.6

0.1%

Balance

17.0

15.5

 

44.2

 

Intra-EA

212.5

214.3

0.9%

638.4

-1.1%

EU

 

 

 

 

 

Extra-EU exports

214.8

215.8

0.5%

643.6

-0.7%

Extra-EU imports

199.6

203.0

1.7%

607.7

0.9%

Balance

15.2

12.8

 

35.9

 

Intra-EU

333.0

333.3

0.1%

997.4

-1.4%

International trade in goods balance

Notes for users

Revisions and timetable

This News Release is based on information transmitted by Member States to Eurostat before 11 September 2024. Figures are provisional. For more details, see information on data.

Methods and definitions

Statistics on trade in goods are transmitted monthly by the Member States, in accordance with the standard set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197. For each reference month, Member States must compile statistics covering their total extra- and intra-EU trade by using estimates, where necessary. These data are available within 40 days after the end of the reference month, enabling euro area and EU aggregates to be disseminated within around 46 days.

Member States provide Eurostat with raw data, which are adjusted for calendar and seasonal effects by Eurostat. The European aggregates are computed with the indirect approach (by Member States) for total imports and exports, which guarantees additivity between the aggregate and its respective components. The estimation of seasonally adjusted data is based on the Tramo-Seats procedure, which is available in the software JDemetra+.

Data are broken down by broad categories of products as defined by the one-digit codes of the Standard international trade classification (SITC).

Geographical information

The euro area (EA20) includes Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland.

The European Union (EU27) includes Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.

For more information

Get in touch

Media requests

Eurostat Media Support

Phone: (+352) 4301 33 408

E-mail: eurostat-mediasupport@ec.europa.eu

Further information on data

Anton ROODHUIJZEN

Phone: (+352) 4301 35 792

Michele MAROTTA

Phone: (+352) 4301 32 493

E-mail: estat-etfree@ec.europa.eu

Share the release

Share component will be rendered here.
Subscribe to receive the latest Eurostat Euro indicators releases