The latest estimates published by Eurostat about trade in goods produced in the euro area with the rest of the world recorded a surplus of 15,2 billion euros, compared to 6,6 billion in the same period of 2012, while the extra-EU trade balance shows positive balances of 15,8 billion, compared to the negative balance of -4,9 bn in May 2012. In this context, the EU energy deficit has decreased (-127,9 billion in the period January-April 2013 compared to -146,6 billion in the same period 2012), while the surplus for manufactured goods increased (128,3 billion against 102,7 billion).
At the same time of year, EU imports to major trading partners decreased compared to 2012 estimates, with the exception of Turkey (+5%) and India (+3%). The most relevant decreases were recorded for imports from Norway (-16%), Japan (-14%) and Brazil (-11%). EU exportsInstead, have grown to most of the main target markets, with the exception of India (-5%) and China (0%). The largest increase was recorded for exports to Switzerland (+25%).
Hence the EU trade surplus increased with the USA (30,5 billion compared to 24,1 billion in the same period of 2012), Switzerland (+27,0 billion against 14,5 billion) and Turkey (9,1 billion against 7,9 bn). In turn, the EU trade deficit decreased as regards China (-41,8 billion against -44,8 billion), Russia (-32,9 billion against -35,5 billion), Norway (-13,7 billion against -20,7 billion) and Japan (-1,3 billion against -4,5 billion). From the point of view of individual Member States, the largest positive balances were observed in Germany (+67,3 billion), followed by the Netherlands (+19,2 billion) and Ireland (+12,1 billion), while the heaviest deficit involved the United Kingdom (-29,2 billion), France (-25,8, 6,6 billion), Greece (-5,7 billion) and Spain (-XNUMX billion).
