The trade balance closed in June with a negative balance of 1,829 billion, an improvement on the deficit of 3,197 billion in June 2010. However, if one considers the whole of the first half of 2011, exports exceed imports by 22,2 billion euro, when in the same period of 2010 the deficit was 15,4 billion.
Over the month, imports fell by 4,1% and exports by 0,8%. It is the Community market that suffers the most, registering a contraction in purchases of 5,7% and in sales of 1,4%.
Looking at the result for the second quarter of 2011, exports grew by 1% (+0,5% for EU countries and +1,6% for non-EU countries), while imports decreased by 0,4% (-0,2% for EU countries and - .5% for non-EU countries).
