Cargo ship loaded with colourful containers.

In the last quarter of 2025, the EU recorded a trade surplus, with goods exported to non-EU countries exceeding imports by €28.4 billion. This continues the positive trade balance, established in the third quarter of 2023, after a period of deficits fuelled by soaring energy costs from late 2021 to mid-2023.

The positive trade balance in the fourth quarter of 2025 was driven by surpluses in trade in chemicals and related products (+€49.3 billion), machinery and vehicles (+€42.3 billion), food, drinks and tobacco (+€10.8 billion) and other goods (+€7.1 billion). In contrast, trade deficits were reported for energy (-€62.7 billion), other manufactured goods (-€11.0 billion) and raw materials (-€7.5 billion).

EU trade balance by product group, Q1 2020 - Q4 2025 (€ billion, seasonally adjusted data). Chart. See link to the full dataset below.

Source dataset: ext_st_eu27_2020sitc

In the fourth quarter of 2025, imports decreased by 1.4% compared with the previous quarter, while exports fell by 0.8%. Both imports and exports registered decreases for 3 consecutive quarters.

EU trade in goods, Q1 2020 - Q4 2025 (% quarterly growth rate, seasonally adjusted data). Chart. See link to the full dataset below.

Source dataset: ext_st_eu27_2020sitc

For more information

Methodological note

Products are defined according to the standard international trade classification (SITC). The main categories are:

  • food, drinks and tobacco (Sections 0 and 1 - including live animals);
  • raw materials (Sections 2 and 4);
  • energy products (Section 3);
  • chemicals and related products (Section 5 - including pharmaceuticals and plastics);
  • machinery and transport equipment (Section 7);
  • other manufactured goods (Sections 6 and 8);
  • other goods (Section 9).

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