Luxembourg, 22/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - According to estimates published by Eurostat on Tuesday, euro zone trade with the rest of the world in September was a surplus of EUR 9.5 billion, compared to 10 billion in August. Exports were up 89.3 billion, compared to 81.2 billion in August, and imports were up 79.8 billion, compared to 71.2 billion. Over the first nine months of the year, the trade surplus rose EUR 77.1 billion, compared to 23.8 billion over the same period in 2001. In the whole of the EU15, the surplus rose in September to EUR 1.5 billion, compared to 2.4 billion in August. Over the first nine months of this year, the EU had a small trade surplus of EUR 4.6 billion, compared to a deficit of 48.4 billion during the same period of 2001. The improvement in the EU trade balance this year is mainly due to a fall in its energy deficit to -71.8 billion over the first eight months, as opposed to 81.5 billion over the same period last year. Germany's surplus was the largest between January and August (EUR 84 billion) followed by Ireland (25 billion). The United Kingdom recorded the largest deficit (-42.4 billion), followed by Spain (-22.4 billion). The EU trade surplus with the United States was characterised by an increase of EUR 40.3 billion during the first eight months of the year, compared to 25.3 billion between January and August 2001. The trade deficit with Japan showed a decrease in the EU deficit - -17.1 billion from January to August, compared to -23.2 billion during the same period of 2001. The deficit recorded by the EU with China remained stable (-29.6 billion between January and August 2002 and 2001).