Brussels, 23/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - In May 2002 the eurozone recorded a trade deficit of EUR 8.3 billion, up EUR 3.3 billion on April 2002, announced Eurostat on Monday. In the EU as a whole (EU15), the trade surplus reached EUR 1.5 billion in May, after a trade deficit of EUR 3.3 billion in the previous month. During the first five months of the year, the eurozone recorded a surplus of EUR 33.0 bn, compared with a deficit of EUR 200 million in the first five months of 2001. Over the same period, EU15 registered a trade deficit of EUR 6.8 billion, as against a deficit of EUR 38.8 billion in the first five months of 2001.
Concerning the total trade of Member States, the largest surplus was observed in Germany (+41.2 bn euro), followed by Ireland (+12.0 bn). The UK registered the largest deficit (-21.8 bn), followed by Spain (-10.2 bn). Eurostat reported that growth in EU15 trade with its major partners was "mixed". EU15 trade with the USA was characterised by an increase in the EU surplus (+17.8 bn in Jan-Apr 2002 compared with +10.0 bn in Jan-Apr 2001) while EU15 trade with Japan showed a decrease in the EU deficit (-8.9 bn compared with -12.5 bn).