Euro area international trade in goods surplus €15.5 bn
Euro area
The first estimates of euro area balance showed a €15.5 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in December 2024, compared with + €16.4 bn in December 2023.
The euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world in December 2024 was €226.5 billion, an increase of 3.1% compared with December 2023 (€219.7 bn).
Imports from the rest of the world stood at €211.0 bn, a rise of 3.8% compared with December 2023 (€203.3 bn).
In December 2024, the euro area surplus slightly decreased compared to November 2024, dropping from €16.0 bn to €15.5 bn. When examining changes in the balance by product, five product groups recorded a negative change, with chemicals and related products observing the largest decline, from €23.0 bn to €20.6 bn. Machineries and vehicles saw the largest increase, rising from €13.0 bn to €16.7 bn.
In 2024, the euro area recorded a surplus of €176.9 bn, compared with €57.4 bn in the year 2023.
The exports of goods to the rest of the world rose to €2 864.0 bn, an increase of 0.6% compared with 2023, while imports fell to €2 687.0 bn, a decrease of 3.7% compared with 2023.
Intra-euro area trade fell to €2 566.2 bn in 2024, down by 2.9% compared with 2023.
Euro area trade - non seasonally adjusted data (bn €) |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flows |
Dec 23 |
Dec 24 |
Growth rates |
Jan-Dec 23 |
Jan-Dec 24 |
Growth rates |
Extra-EA exports |
219.7 |
226.5 |
3.1% |
2 847.9 |
2 864.0 |
0.6% |
Extra-EA imports |
203.3 |
211.0 |
3.8% |
2 790.5 |
2 687.0 |
-3.7% |
Extra-EA trade balance |
16.4 |
15.5 |
57.4 |
176.9 |
||
Intra-EA trade |
188.3 |
191.5 |
1.7% |
2 643.6 |
2 566.2 |
-2.9% |
Source dataset: ext_st_ea_sitc
|
||||||
European Union
The EU balance showed a €16.3 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in December 2024, compared with +€16.1 bn in December 2023.
The extra-EU exports of goods in December 2024 was €209.0 billion, up by 3.7% compared with December 2023 (€201.5 bn).
Imports from the rest of the world stood at €192.7 bn, up by 3.9% compared with December 2023 (€185.4 bn).
In December 2024, compared to November 2024, the EU surplus increased from €12.7 bn to €16.3 bn.
This rise was mainly driven by an increased surplus in machineries and vehicles, from €15.6 bn to €18.8 bn. Three product groups recorded a decrease in their balance when compared to November 2024, with chemicals and related products observing the largest decline, from €21,6 bn to €19.7 bn.
In 2024, extra-EU exports of goods rose to €2 584.1 bn (an increase of 1.1% compared with 2023), while imports fell to €2 434.0 bn (a decrease of 3.5% compared with 2023).
As a result, the EU recorded a surplus of €150.1 bn, compared with €34.4 bn in 2023.
Intra-EU trade fell to €4 023.9 bn in 2024, down by 2.2% compared with 2023.
EU trade - non seasonally adjusted data (bn €) |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flows |
Dec 23 |
Dec 24 |
Growth rates |
Jan-Dec 23 |
Jan-Dec 24 |
Growth rates |
Extra-EU exports |
201.5 |
209.0 |
3.7% |
2 557.0 |
2 584.1 |
1.1% |
Extra-EU imports |
185.4 |
192.7 |
3.9% |
2 522.6 |
2 434.0 |
-3.5% |
Extra-EU trade balance |
16.1 |
16.3 |
34.4 |
150.1 |
||
Intra-EU trade |
291.9 |
296.6 |
1.6% |
4 113.6 |
4 023.9 |
-2.2% |
Source dataset: ext_st_eu27_2020sitc
|
||||||
Main products - EU Bn €, monthly change compared to previous year |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Extra-EU exports |
Extra-EU imports |
Trade balance |
||||
Dec 24 |
Growth rates |
Dec 24 |
Growth rates |
Dec 24 |
Dec 23 |
|
Total |
209.0 |
3.7% |
192.7 |
3.9% |
16.3 |
16.1 |
Primary goods: |
32.8 |
-0.1% |
59.7 |
-1.2% |
-27.0 |
-27.7 |
Food & drink |
16.9 |
6.1% |
13.5 |
20.5% |
3.3 |
4.7 |
Raw materials |
5.5 |
4.8% |
7.7 |
10.1% |
-2.2 |
-1.7 |
Energy |
10.4 |
-10.8% |
38.5 |
-8.9% |
-28.1 |
-30.6 |
Manufactured goods: |
170.4 |
3.7% |
130.6 |
5.8% |
39.9 |
41.0 |
Chemicals & related products |
43.1 |
14.3% |
23.3 |
0.8% |
19.7 |
14.5 |
Machinery & vehicles |
83.2 |
-1.1% |
64.3 |
3.5% |
18.8 |
21.9 |
Other manufactured goods |
44.2 |
3.6% |
42.9 |
12.7% |
1.3 |
4.6 |
Other |
5.8 |
34.0% |
2.4 |
46.7% |
3.4 |
2.7 |
Source dataset: ext_st_eu27_2020sitc
|
||||||
Main trading partners - EU Bn €, monthly change compared to previous year |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exports |
Import |
Trade balance |
||||
Dec 24 |
Growth rates |
Dec 24 |
Growth rates |
Dec 24 |
Dec 23 |
|
United States |
41.6 |
5.6% |
26.1 |
-10.8% |
15.4 |
10.1 |
China |
16.6 |
-8.8% |
40.2 |
10.3% |
-23.6 |
-18.3 |
United Kingdom |
23.4 |
-1.4% |
12.7 |
1.3% |
10.7 |
11.2 |
Switzerland |
14.7 |
10.2% |
10.3 |
9.9% |
4.4 |
4.0 |
Türkiye |
8.9 |
2.6% |
8.0 |
9.7% |
0.9 |
1.3 |
Norway |
4.5 |
-17.3% |
8.6 |
2.2% |
-4.1 |
-3.0 |
South Korea |
5.6 |
10.9% |
5.0 |
3.4% |
0.6 |
0.3 |
Japan |
5.3 |
5.7% |
5.0 |
0.4% |
0.3 |
0.0 |
India |
4.5 |
0.6% |
5.2 |
26.3% |
-0.7 |
0.3 |
Brazil |
3.6 |
3.7% |
3.6 |
4.6% |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Source dataset: ext_st_eu27_2020sitc
|
||||||
Annex - Seasonally adjusted data
In December 2024 compared with November 2024, seasonally adjusted exports and imports in the euro area decreased respectively by 0.2% and by 0.8%. As a result, the trade balance increased to €14.6 bn, up from €13.3 bn in November 2024.
For the EU seasonally adjusted exports increased by 0.1%, while imports decreased by 1.2%. As a result, the seasonally adjusted balance increased to €12.9 bn, up from €10.1 bn in November 2024.
In the last quarter of 2024, seasonally adjusted exports and imports in the euro area increased respectively by 0.7% and 0.8, in comparison with third quarter of 2024. During the same period, both exports and imports in the EU rose by 0.4%.
EA and EU trade - seasonally adjusted data - (bn €) |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nov 24 |
Dec 24 |
Growth rates |
Oct 24 - Dec 24 |
Growth rates (compared to the previous three months) |
|
Euro area |
|
|
|
|
|
Extra-EA exports |
241.4 |
240.8 |
-0.2% |
715.7 |
0.7% |
Extra-EA imports |
228.1 |
226.2 |
-0.8% |
680.8 |
0.8% |
Balance |
13.3 |
14.6 |
|
34.8 |
|
Intra-EA |
211.9 |
213.1 |
0.6% |
640.0 |
-0.5% |
EU |
|
|
|
|
|
Extra-EU exports |
217.5 |
217.8 |
0.1% |
644.9 |
0.4% |
Extra-EU imports |
207.4 |
204.9 |
-1.2% |
617.7 |
0.4% |
Balance |
10.1 |
12.9 |
|
27.2 |
|
Intra-EU |
334.7 |
339.6 |
1.5% |
1011.3 |
0.5% |
Source Datasets: ext_st_ea_sitc (Euro area), ext_st_eu27_2020sitc (EU)
|
|||||
Notes for users
Revisions and timetable
This News Release is based on information transmitted by Member States to Eurostat before 12 February 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
Media requests
Eurostat Media Support
Phone: (+352) 4301 33 408
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