The FINANCIAL — The EU28 seasonally adjusted current account of the balance of payments recorded a surplus of €41.9 billion (1.1% of GDP) in the second quarter of 2017, down from a surplus of €49.4 billion (1.3% of GDP) in the first quarter of 2017 and from a surplus of €58.6 billion (1.6% of GDP) in the second quarter of 2016, according to estimates released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
In the second quarter of 2017 compared with the first quarter of 2017, based on seasonally adjusted data, the surplus of the goods account fell slightly (+€34.3 bn compared to +€34.5 bn) as did the surplus of the services account (+€39.5 bn compared to +€40.3 bn). The deficit of the primary income account increased (-€7.8 bn compared to -€2.2 bn), as did the deficit of the secondary income account (-€24.1 bn compared to -€23.2 bn). The deficit of the capital account decreased (-€13.4 bn compared to -€13.9 bn).
Main partners
In the second quarter of 2017, based on non-seasonally adjusted data, the EU28 recorded external current account surpluses with the USA (+€30.2 bn), Switzerland (+€22.0 bn), Hong Kong (+€6.9 bn), Brazil (+€5.9 bn) and Canada (+€5.3 bn). Deficits were registered with China (-€22.0 bn), Russia (-€6.6 bn), Japan (-€5.9 bn), offshore financial centres (-€3.0 bn) and India (-€0.5 bn).
Financial account
Based on non-seasonally adjusted data, direct investment assets of the EU28 increased in the second quarter of 2017 by €42.2 bn, while direct investment liabilities grew by €221.0 bn. As a result, the EU28 was a net recipient of direct investment in the second quarter of 2017 by €178.9 bn. Portfolio investment recorded a net outflow of €35.1 bn, while for other investment there was a net inflow of €7.2 bn.
Current account of Member States (including intra-EU flows)
As concerns the total (intra-EU plus extra-EU) current account balances of the EU28 Member States, based on available non-seasonally adjusted data, thirteen recorded surpluses and fourteen deficits, while Cyprus was in balance in the second quarter of 2017. The highest surpluses were observed in Germany (+€55.7 bn), the Netherlands (+€15.4 bn), Italy (+€10.7 bn) and Denmark (+€6.8), and the largest deficits in the United Kingdom (-€23.3 bn), Romania (-€2.2 bn) and France (-€2.0 bn).
Discussion about this post