29/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - The first estimates published by Eurostat show that the Euro-zone recorded a trade surplus with the rest of the world in March of EUR 4.3 billion (+ 0.3 billion in February), and trade within the Euro-zone recorded a deficit of EUR 1.7 billion for the first quarter. The first estimates of the balance of trade outside the European Union for March reveal a deficit of EUR 4.2 billion (5.9 billion in February). The EU15 deficit in the first quarter is estimated at EUR 24.2 billion. The Statistical Office of the European Communities stresses that in comparison with the last few months, annual growth in trade slowed in March with growth rates of under 10% for all sectors.