Brussels, 23/08/2005 (Agence Europe) - In June 2005, the euro zone registered an external trade surplus of 6.5 billion euros with the rest of the world, compared to 8.4 billion in June 2004 and 2.7 billion in May 2005. For the EU of 25, the balance of trade recorded a deficit of 2.3 billion euros in June, compared to a deficit of 2.5 billion in June 2004 and of 7.1 last May. Unsurprisingly, the deficit in the field of energy increased sharply (79 billion euros between January and May 2005, compared to 53 billion over the same period in 2004). The EU of 25 increased its trade surplus with the United States (31.4 billion in January-May 2005, compared to 28.9 billion in January-May 2005) and with Switzerland (7 billion, compared to 4.7). At the same time, the EU's trade deficit increased with China (38.3 billion compared to 28.2), Russia (20.4 compared to 14.2) and Norway (11.8 compared to 29.8), but decreased with Japan (12.8 as against 14.1). Germany recorded the greatest surplus over the first five months of the year (67 billion euros), followed by the Netherlands (15.6), Ireland (13.7) and Sweden (7.2). The United Kingdom showed the greatest deficit (37.8), ahead of Spain (28.5), Greece and France (12.6 each).