Eurostat has published the first estimates of trade in Eurozone goods with the rest of the world. In March 2013, a surplus of 22,9 billion euros, against 6,9 in the same period of the previous year, while last February the trade balance showed a surplus of 10,1 billion, against 1,2 in the same month in 2012. there was also an increase in exports of 2,8%, whereas imports fell by 1 %. Looking from the Community perspective, however, the March estimates speak of a EU surplus of 15,8 billion, against -8,2 in the same period of the previous year, while in February recorded revenues increased by 1,7 billion, against a deficit of 13 billion last year. In this scenario, March EU exports rose 3,4%, while imports fell 1,1%.
during the period considered the deficit produced by energy trade fell to 66,2 billion, against -71,7 billion in the first months of 2012, while the positive balances recorded by flows of industrial goods rose to 49,9 billion from 41,1 billion, thanks to the general decrease in imports (with the exception of Turkey and Russia, respectively +6% and +2%), especially from Norway, Japan (-14% for both) and Brazil (-12%). On the other hand, the increase in exports mainly involved Switzerland and Turkey (+11% for both), while it fell considerably with respect to India (-10%). And if, on the one hand, the surplus has increased with respect to the USA, Switzerland and Turkey, on the other the deficit has remained practically stable in trade with Russia.
Taking a look at the Member States, the largest positive balances were recorded in Germany (+30,4 billion), the Netherlands (+9,3 billion) and Ireland (+5,1 billion), the heaviest deficits hit the United Kingdom (-17,9 billion) and France (-15,3 billion).
