The FINANCIAL -- The first estimate for the euro area1 (EA16) trade balance with the rest of the world in September 2009 gave a 3.7 bn euro surplus, compared with -6.0 bn in September 2008.
The August 20092 balance was -2.3 bn, compared with -10.8 bn in August 2008. In September 2009 compared with August 2009, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 5.5% and imports by 1.1%.
"The first estimate for the September 2009 extra-EU271 trade balance was a 11.2 bn euro deficit, compared with -24.5 bn in September 2008. In August 20092 the balance was -12.0 bn, compared with -28.5 bn in August 2008. In September 2009 compared with August 2009, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 3.4% and imports by 2.2%," European Union informs.
These data3 are released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.
EU27 January-August 2009 detailed results
The EU27 deficit decreased for energy (-152.3 bn euro in January-August 2009 compared with -261.1 bn in January-August 2008) and for raw materials (-12.1 bn compared with -27.5 bn). The surplus fell for machinery and vehicles (+68.6 bn compared with +100.9 bn), but rose for chemicals (+53.6 bn compared with +51.0 bn).
EU27 trade flows with all of its major partners fell. The largest decreases were recorded for exports to Russia (-40% in January-August 2009 compared with January-August 2008), Turkey (-28%), South Korea and Brazil (both -23%), the USA and Norway (both -20%), and for imports from Russia (-43%), Norway (-31%), Japan (-29%), Brazil (-28%) and Turkey (-26%).
The EU27 trade surplus fell with the USA (+26.1 bn euro in January-August 2009 compared with +42.6 bn in January-August 2008) and Switzerland (+8.6 bn compared with +12.2 bn). The EU27 trade deficit decreased with China (-86.4 bn compared with -102.5 bn), Russia (-29.1 bn compared with -55.2 bn), Norway (-21.9 bn compared with -36.5 bn) and Japan (-13.0 bn compared with -22.9 bn).
Concerning the total trade of Member States, the largest surplus was observed in Germany (+81.3 bn euro in January-August 2009), followed by Ireland (+25.9 bn) and the Netherlands (+23.2 bn). The United Kingdom (-61.3 bn) registered the largest deficit, followed by France (-34.5 bn), Spain (-31.4 bn), Greece (-19.0 bn) and Portugal (-11.6 bn).
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