Brussels, 16/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - The EU28's trade in goods with third countries shows a surplus of €4.3 billion compared to October 2012.
According to estimates for the first three quarters (January-September) of 2013, published by Eurostat on 16 December, the eurozone recorded a surplus of €17.2 billion with regard to the rest of the world - compared to a surplus of €9.6 billion recorded in October 2012. The EU28 recorded a surplus of €4.3 billion compared to -€10.2 billion in October 2012. The EU28 deficit for energy decreased (to -€287.1 billion in the first three quarters of 2013 compared to -€315.3 billion in the same period in 2012) while its surplus for manufactured products increased (+€286.6 billion compared to +€254.2 billion).
EU28 imports fell in the first three quarters of 2013 compared to the first three quarters of 2012 with regard to all its main partners (-15% with Japan, -14% with Brazil, -12% with Switzerland, and -11% with Norway) with the exception of imports from Turkey (+4%) and India (+1%). For exports, the pattern is mixed - with the strongest increases being recorded for exports to Switzerland (+32%) and Turkey (+5%), and the lowest to India (-5%), the USA and Japan (-3% each). Overall, the EU28 surplus increased strongly with Switzerland (+€61.4 billion compared to +€20.1 billion in 2012) and more moderately with the US (+€68.3 billion compared to +€64.7 billion). The EU28 deficit fell with China (-€98.2 billion compared to -€110.1 billion in 2012), Russia (-€65.6 billion compared to -€67.8 billion), Norway (-€30.1 billion compared to -€39.5 billion) and Japan (-€1.8 billion compared to -€8.3 billion). Germany has the largest surplus (+€148.3 billion), followed by the Netherlands (+€40.5 billion) and Ireland (+€28.5 billion). France registers the largest deficit (-€57.5 billion), followed by the UK (-€55.1 billion) and Greece (-€14.5 billion). (EH/transl.fl)