Eurostat released its latest figures on international trade in goods, showing a significant increase in trade surpluses for both the euro area and the European Union in February 2025.
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The euro area recorded a trade in goods surplus of €24.0 billion with the rest of the world in February 2025, up from €21.7 billion in February 2024. Exports rose by 6.2% to €248.7 billion, while imports increased by 5.7% to €224.7 billion.
'The euro area surplus rose significantly compared to January 2025, increasing from €0.8 billion to €24.0 billion,' Eurostat noted. 'Compared to the same period last year, the surplus in the Chemicals sector saw a remarkable increase, from €19.2 billion to €30.3 billion.'
'Sectors such as Machineries & Vehicles and Other Manufactured Goods experienced a slight decrease compared to February 2024.'
Across the broader January–February 2025 period, the euro area posted a €24.8 billion surplus, down from €32.3 billion in the same period of 2024. Exports during this time increased by 4.5% to €480.9 billion, while imports rose by 6.6% to €456.1 billion. Intra-euro area trade edged up 0.2% to €429.1 billion.
The European Union (EU27) also posted a notable increase in its trade surplus, which reached €23.0 billion in February 2025, compared with €21.8 billion in February 2024. Exports outside the EU rose by 7.0% to €225.4 billion, while imports climbed by 7.2% to €202.4 billion.
'The EU surplus rebounded significantly compared to January 2025, rising from a deficit of €5.6 billion to a surplus of €23.0 billion,' the release stated. 'The Chemicals sector witnessed a remarkable increase, with its balance rising from €17.3 billion to €28.6 billion.'
However, trade balances in other sectors declined. 'Sectors such as Machineries and Vehicles experienced a decrease of the balance, from €23.7 billion to €19.4 billion. Other Manufactured Goods shifted from a surplus of €2.6 billion to a deficit of €0.6 billion.'
Over January–February 2025, EU exports rose to €434.3 billion (up 5.8%), and imports to €416.9 billion (up 9.1%). The EU's overall surplus for the two-month period was €17.4 billion, compared with €28.5 billion a year earlier. Intra-EU trade remained flat at €671.8 billion.
Seasonally adjusted figures showed continued momentum. In February 2025, euro area exports rose by 4.5% month-on-month, while imports increased by 2.0%, pushing the seasonally adjusted trade surplus up to €21.0 billion. Similarly, the EU's adjusted surplus increased to €19.0 billion, up from €10.6 billion in January.
More information:
Eurostat
eurostat-mediasupport@ec.europa.eu
www.ec.europa.eu