Euro area international trade in goods surplus €16.2 bn
Euro area
The first estimates of euro area balance showed a €16.2 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in May 2025, compared with + €12.7 bn in May 2024.
The euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world in May 2025 were €242.6 billion, an increase of 0.9% compared with May 2024 (€240.6 bn).
Imports from the rest of the world stood at €226.5 bn, down by 0.6% compared with May 2024 (€227.9 bn).
In May 2025, the euro area balance increased compared to April 2025, with the total surplus rising from €11.1 bn to €16.2 bn. This improvement was largely driven by a rebound in the chemicals and related products, whose surplus grew from €22.0 bn to €24.3 bn, and a moderate increase in machinery & vehicles, up from €12.1 bn to €12.9 bn.
Compared to May 2024, the euro area balance rose by €3.5 bn, mainly due to a decrease in the energy products deficit (from –€25.5 bn in May 2024 to –€21.4 bn in May 2025). The chemicals products also registered an increase in surplus, from €19.5 bn to €24.3 bn.
In January to May 2025, the euro area recorded a surplus of €86.5 bn, compared with €81.4 bn in January-May 2024.
The euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world rose to €1 248.2 bn (an increase of 4.6% compared with January-May 2024), and imports rose to €1 161.7 bn (an increase of 4.5% compared with January-May 2024).
Intra-euro area trade rose to €1 099.6 bn in January-May 2025, up by 1% compared with January-May 2024.
Euro area trade - non seasonally adjusted data (bn €) |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flows |
May 24 |
May 25 |
Growth |
Jan-May 24 |
Jan-May 25 |
Growth |
Extra-EA exports |
240.6 |
242.6 |
0.9% |
1 193.2 |
1 248.2 |
4.6% |
Extra-EA imports |
227.9 |
226.5 |
-0.6% |
1 111.8 |
1 161.7 |
4.5% |
Extra-EA trade balance |
12.7 |
16.2 |
81.4 |
86.5 |
||
Intra-EA trade |
216.1 |
219.1 |
1.4% |
1 088.4 |
1 099.6 |
1.0% |
Source dataset: ext_st_ea_sitc
|
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European Union
The EU balance showed a €13.1 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in May 2025, compared with +€8.9 bn in May 2024.
The extra-EU exports of goods in May 2025 were €216.9 billion, up by 0.1% compared with May 2024 (€216.8 bn).
Imports from the rest of the world stood at €203.8 bn, down by 2.0% compared with May 2024 (€207.9 bn).
In May 2025, the EU balance increased compared to April 2025, with the total surplus rising from €8.5 bn to €13.1 bn. This improvement was mainly driven by an increase of the surplus in the chemicals and related products, (from €20.2 bn to €23.2 bn), and a slight reduction in the energy products deficit (from –€27.4 bn to –€24.8 bn).
Compared to May 2024, when the total surplus stood at €8.9 bn, the EU balance improved by €4.2 bn. This year-on-year increase was largely driven by a smaller energy deficit (–€30.0 bn in May 2024 vs. –€24.8 bn in May 2025) and by an increase of surplus in the chemicals products (from €18.0 bn to €23.2 bn). However, these gains were partly offset by a decline in the surplus of other product categories — notably machineries & vehicles, (which fell from €16.8 bn to €14.6 bn), and other manufactured goods, (which switched from a surplus of €0.8 to a deficit of €1.1 bn).
In January to May 2025, the EU recorded a surplus of €72.0 bn, compared with €72.6 bn in January-May 2024.
The extra-EU exports of goods rose to €1 126.7 bn (an increase of 5.2% compared with January-May 2024), and imports rose to €1 054.7 bn (an increase of 5.6% compared with January-May 2024).
Intra-EU trade rose to €1 725.8 bn in January-May 2025, +1.2% compared with January-May 2024.
EU trade - non seasonally adjusted data (bn €) |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flows |
May 24 |
May 25 |
Growth |
Jan-May 24 |
Jan-May 25 |
Growth |
Extra-EU exports |
216.8 |
216.9 |
0.1% |
1 071.0 |
1 126.7 |
5.2% |
Extra-EU imports |
207.9 |
203.8 |
-2.0% |
998.4 |
1 054.7 |
5.6% |
Extra-EU trade balance |
8.9 |
13.1 |
72.6 |
72.0 |
||
Intra-EU trade |
337.8 |
343.9 |
1.8% |
1 705.5 |
1 725.8 |
1.2% |
Source dataset: ext_st_eu27_2020sitc
|
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Main products - EU Bn €, monthly change compared to previous year |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Extra-EU exports |
Extra-EU imports |
Trade balance |
||||
May 25 |
Growth rates |
May 25 |
Growth rates |
May 25 |
May 24 |
|
Total |
216.9 |
0.1% |
203.8 |
-2.0% |
13.1 |
8.9 |
Primary goods: |
32.0 |
-7.3% |
57.1 |
-9.2% |
-25.1 |
-28.4 |
Food & drink |
17.9 |
3.2% |
15.4 |
15.1% |
2.5 |
3.9 |
Raw materials |
5.5 |
-9.9% |
8.3 |
-1.7% |
-2.8 |
-2.3 |
Energy |
8.6 |
-22.4% |
33.4 |
-18.7% |
-24.8 |
-30.0 |
Manufactured goods: |
180.5 |
1.1% |
143.8 |
0.6% |
36.7 |
35.6 |
Chemicals |
52.2 |
12.1% |
29.0 |
1.4% |
23.2 |
18.0 |
Machinery & vehicles |
81.9 |
-2.4% |
67.2 |
0.1% |
14.7 |
16.8 |
Other manuf’d goods |
46.4 |
-3.4% |
47.6 |
0.7% |
-1.2 |
0.8 |
Other |
4.4 |
18.3% |
2.9 |
45.0% |
1.5 |
1.7 |
Source dataset: ext_st_eu27_2020sitc
|
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Main trading partners - EU Bn €, monthly change compared to previous year |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Extra-EU exports |
Extra-EU imports |
Trade balance |
||||
May 25 |
Growth rates |
May 25 |
Growth rates |
May 25 |
May 24 |
|
United States |
46.2 |
4.4% |
27.8 |
-7.4% |
18.4 |
14.2 |
China |
16.1 |
-11.2% |
43.6 |
3.4% |
-27.5 |
-23.9 |
United Kingdom |
29.1 |
2.5% |
12.7 |
-7.1% |
16.4 |
14.8 |
Switzerland |
17.3 |
6.8% |
12.7 |
11.5% |
4.6 |
4.9 |
Türkiye |
9.5 |
-4.9% |
8.8 |
7.4% |
0.7 |
1.8 |
Norway |
5.6 |
2.4% |
7.8 |
-2.4% |
-2.2 |
-2.5 |
Japan |
6.2 |
25.6% |
5.4 |
8.9% |
0.8 |
-0.1 |
South Korea |
4.2 |
-1.9% |
5.7 |
-5.5% |
-1.5 |
-1.7 |
India |
3.6 |
-12.2% |
5.9 |
-13.0% |
-2.3 |
-2.7 |
Brazil |
3.7 |
-1.1% |
4.0 |
-7.0% |
-0.3 |
-0.6 |
Source dataset: ext_st_eu27_2020sitc
|
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Annex - Seasonally adjusted data
In May 2025 compared with April 2025, euro area seasonally adjusted exports decreased by 0.5%, while imports decreased by 1.0%. The seasonally adjusted balance was €16.2 bn, an increase compared with April (€15.1 bn).
In May 2025 compared with April 2025, EU seasonally adjusted exports decreased by 0.8%, while imports decreased by 1.6%. The seasonally adjusted balance was €13.4 bn, an increase compared with April (€11.9 bn).
In March-May 2025, euro area exports to non-EA countries rose by 1.4%, while imports fell by 0.1%. Intra-euro area trade fell by 0.2%. During the same period, EU exports to non-EU countries increased by 1.0%, while imports fell by 0.6%. Intra-EU trade increased by 0.3%.
EA and EU trade - seasonally adjusted data - (bn €) |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apr 25 |
May 25 |
growth rates |
Mar-May 25 |
Growth rates (compared to the previous three months) |
|
Euro area |
|||||
Extra-EA exports |
244.2 |
243.0 |
-0.5% |
754.0 |
1.4% |
Extra-EA imports |
229.2 |
226.8 |
-1.0% |
694.9 |
-0.1% |
Balance |
15.1 |
16.2 |
59.1 |
||
Intra-EA |
217.4 |
215.8 |
-0.8% |
648.9 |
-0.2% |
EU |
|||||
Extra-EU exports |
219.9 |
218.1 |
-0.8% |
682.1 |
1.0% |
Extra-EU imports |
208.0 |
204.7 |
-1.6% |
631.8 |
-0.6% |
Balance |
11.9 |
13.4 |
50.3 |
||
Intra-EU |
342.1 |
340.6 |
-0.4% |
1 022.7 |
0.3% |
Source Datasets: ext_st_ea_sitc (Euro area), ext_st_eu27_2020sitc (EU)
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Notes for users
Revisions and timetable
This News Release is based on information transmitted by Member States to Eurostat before11 Jul 2025 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
Further information on data
Anton ROODHUIJZEN
Phone: (+352) 4301 35 792
E-mail: estat-etfree@ec.europa.eu
Michele MAROTTA
Phone: (+352) 4301 32 493