The first estimate for the euro area (EA17) trade in goods balance with the rest of the world in November 2012 gave a 13.7 bn euro surplus, compared with +4.9 bn in November 2011. The October 2012 balance was +9.3 bn, compared with -0.7 bn in October 2011. In November 2012 compared with October 2012, seasonally adjusted exports increased by 0.8% while imports fell by 1.5%. These data are released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

The first estimate for the November 2012 extra-EU27 trade in goods balance was a 1.7 bn euro deficit, compared with -9.3 bn in November 2011. The October 2012 balance was -9.8 bn, compared with -11.3 bn in October 2011. In November 2012 compared with October 2012, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 1.1% while imports decreased by 3.0%.

EU27 detailed results for January to October 2012

The EU27 deficit for energy increased (-347.0 bn euro in January-October 2012 compared with -319.5 bn in January-October 2011), as did the surplus for manufactured goods (+294.1 bn compared with +196.8 bn).

EU27 exports to most of its major partners grew in January-October 2012 compared with January-October 2011, except for India (-5%) and Switzerland (-3%). The most notable increases were recorded for exports to South Korea (+18%), Russia (+16%), Japan (+15%), the USA (+14%) and Brazil (+13%). As regards EU27 imports, the
pattern was mixed. The largest increases were recorded for imports from Switzerland (+15%), Norway and the USA (both +9%), and the largest falls with India (-8%) and Japan (-6%).

The EU27 trade surplus increased with the USA (+72.3 bn euro in January-October 2012 compared with +56.9 bn in January-October 2011) and Turkey (+22.7 bn compared with +21.2 bn), but fell with Switzerland (+21.9 bn compared with +37.7 bn). The EU27 trade deficit declined with China (-122.9 bn compared with -133.7 bn), Russia(-73.4 bn compared with -77.3 bn) and Japan (-7.7 bn compared with -17.4 bn), but rose with Norway (-43.1 bn compared with -38.7 bn).

Concerning the total trade of Member States, the largest surplus was observed in Germany (+157.7 bn euro in January-October 2012), followed by the Netherlands (+41.0 bn) and Ireland (+35.6 bn). The United Kingdom (-139.8 bn) registered the largest deficit, followed by France (-69.1 bn), Spain (-29.3 bn) and Greece (-13.2 bn).