The first estimate for the euro area (EA17) trade in goods balance with the rest of the world in October 2013 gave a 17.2 billion euro surplus, compared with +9.6 bn in October 2012. The September 2013 balance was +10.9 bn, compared with +8.6 bn in September 2012. In October 2013 compared with September 2013, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 0.2% while imports fell by 1.2%. These data are released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

The first estimate for the October 2013 extra-EU28 trade balance was a 4.3 bn euro surplus, compared with -10.2 bn in October 2012. In September 2013 the balance was -0.7 bn, compared with -14.7 bn in September 2012. In October 2013 compared with September 2013, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 0.5% while imports fell by 0.8%.

EU28 detailed results for January to September 2013

The EU28 deficit for energy decreased (-287.1 bn euro in January-September 2013 compared with -315.3 bn in January-September 2012), while the surplus for manufactured goods increased (+286.6 bn compared with +254.2 bn).

EU28 imports from most of its major partners fell in January-September 2013 compared with January-September 2012, except for Turkey (+4%) and India (+1%). The most notable decreases were recorded for imports from Japan (-15%), Brazil (-14%), Switzerland (-12%) and Norway (-11%). The pattern was mixed for EU28 exports, with the largest increases registered for exports to Switzerland (+32%) and Turkey (+5%) and the most notable falls for exports to India (-5%), the USA and Japan (both -3%).

The EU28 trade surplus increased significantly with Switzerland (+61.4 bn euro in January-September 2013 compared with +20.1 bn in January-September 2012) and more moderately with the USA (+68.3 bn compared with +64.7 bn), Turkey (+21.6 bn compared with +20.5 bn) and Brazil (+5.5 bn compared with +0.8 bn). The EU28 trade deficit fell with China (-98.2 bn compared with -110.1 bn), Russia (-65.6 bn compared with -67.8 bn), Norway (-30.1 bn compared with -39.5 bn) and Japan (-1.8 bn compared with -8.3 bn).

Concerning the total trade of Member States, the largest surplus was observed in Germany (+148.3 bn euro in January-September 2013), followed by the Netherlands (+40.5 bn), Ireland (+28.5 bn), Italy (+19.6 bn), Belgium (+11.6 bn) and the Czech Republic (+10.6 bn). France (-57.5 bn) registered the largest deficit, followed by the United Kingdom (-55.1 bn), Greece (-14.5 bn) and Spain (-11.6 bn).