Euro area external trade surplus 28.3 bn euro

The first estimate for the euro area (EA13) trade balance with the rest of the world in December 2007 gave a 4,2 bn euro deficit, compared with 2,4 bn in December 2006, the November 20072
balance was 3,0 bn, compared with 5,3 bn in November 2006, in December 2007 compared with November 2007, seasonally adjusted exports fell by 2,5% while imports rose by 0,7%.

The first estimate for the December 2007 extra-EU271 trade balance was a deficit of 17.9 bn euro, compared with -10.1 bn in December 2006. In November 20072, the balance was -16.8 bn, compared
with -12.3 bn in November 2006. In December 2007 compared with November 2007, seasonally adjusted exports fell by 4.0% and imports by 0.7%.

During 2007, euro area trade recorded a surplus of 28.3 bn euro, compared with -9.3 bn in 2006. The EU27 recorded a deficit of 185.7 bn in 2007, compared with -192.1 bn in 2006. These data3 are
released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

EU27 January-November 2007 detailed results The EU27 energy deficit decreased (-241.2 bn euro in January-November 2007 compared with -260.0 bn in January-November 2006), while
the surplus rose for machinery and vehicles ( 117.5 bn compared with 91.3 bn). EU27 trade with most of its major partners grew, with the exception of exports to the USA and Japan (both -2% in
January-November 2007 compared with January-November 2006), and imports from Norway (-5%), South Korea (-3%) and Russia (-1%). The largest increases were recorded for exports to Russia ( 24%),
India ( 21%), Brazil ( 20%), China and Norway (both 13%), and for imports from China and Brazil (both 20%), India ( 17%) and Turkey ( 13%).

The EU27 trade surplus fell with the USA ( 75.2 bn euro in January-November 2007 compared with 86.8 bn in January-November 2006) and remained nearly stable with Switzerland ( 14.8 bn compared
with 14.7 bn). The EU27 trade deficit grew with China (-147.6 bn compared with -119.8 bn), Japan (-31.4 bn compared with -30.0 bn) and Brazil (-10.6 bn compared with -8.6 bn), but decreased
with Russia (-47.4 bn compared with -64.1 bn), Norway (-29.9 bn compared with -37.8 bn) and South Korea (-13.8 bn compared to -16.8 bn). Concerning the total trade of Member States, the largest
surplus was observed in Germany ( 184.8 bn euro in January-November 2007), followed by the Netherlands ( 39.8 bn), Ireland ( 27.2 bn), Belgium ( 13.0 bn) and Sweden ( 12.3 bn). The United
Kingdom (-124.4 bn) registered the largest deficit, followed by Spain (-86.6 bn), France (-40.3 bn), Greece (-35.0 bn), Romania (-19.4 bn), Portugal (-17.2 bn) and Poland (-14.8 bn).