Il EU trade balance vis-à-vis other international trading partners, it recorded a surplus of 28,8 billion euros in the third quarter of 2012, against a deficit of 6,8 billion in the same period of 2011. The deficit of consumer goods in fact dropped dramatically (2,6 24,6 billion against 2011 in XNUMX), while the positive balances for services increased, which rose to 39,3 billion in 2012 against 31,1 billion in the previous year, as a result of the positive performance of highly professional and technical services (+15,3 billion), transport (+7,4 billion), computers and IT (+6,2 bn), insurance (+3,8 bn) and construction sector (+2,7 bn), partly offset by the decline in royalties (-2 bn).
During the third quarter of 2012, the markets with which EU countries recorded the greatest surpluses were the USA (+34,1 billion), Switzerland (+15,1 billion), Hong Kong (+7,8 billion), Brazil (+7,4 billion) and Canada (+5 billion), while deficits concerned China (-30,1 billion), Russia (-6,7 billion) and Japan (-5,4 billion). At the same time of the year, they were performed productive investments in non-EU markets for 55,3 billion euros, against 40,5 billion in 2011, with incoming investment flows of 35,4 billion, up on the 34,3 billion of the previous year. In addition, portfolio investment outflows amounted to $126bn.
As far as Member States are concerned, the highest positive balances were recorded in Germany (+41,5 billion), Holland (+12,6 billion) and Sweden (+7,8 billion), while the highest deficits concerned the United Kingdom (-20,2 billion) and France (-8 billion).
