Euro area trade surplus with rest of world estimated at €24 bn in Feb

The euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world in February 2025 were €248.7 billion, an increase of 6.2 per cent compared to February 2024.

In February 2025, the euro area surplus saw a substantial increase from €0.8 billion in January 2025. 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. Meanwhile, sectors such as machineries and vehicles and other manufactured goods experienced a slight decrease compared to February 2024, Eurostat said in a press release.

In January to February 2025, the euro area recorded a surplus of €24.8 billion, a decrease compared with €32.3 billion in January-February 2024. The euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world rose to €480.9 billion (an increase of 4.5 per cent compared with January-February 2024), and imports rose to €456.1 billion (an increase of 6.6 per cent compared with January-February 2024).

Intra-euro area trade rose to €429.1 billion in January-February 2025, an increase of 0.2 per cent compared with January-February 2024.

In February 2025 compared with January 2025, euro area seasonally adjusted exports increased by 4.5 per cent, and imports increased by 2.0 per cent. The seasonally adjusted balance was €21.0 billion, an increase compared with the previous month of €14.4 billion.

In the last three months, seasonally adjusted exports in the euro area increased by 4.6 per cent, while imports increased by 2.0 per cent, compared with September-November 2024.

In the European Union (EU), extra-EU goods exports totalled €434.3 billion during January–February 2025, marking a 5.8 per cent rise compared to the same period in 2024, while imports grew by 9.1 per cent to €416.9 billion.

As a result, the EU recorded a surplus of €17.4 billion (~$18.62 billion), compared with €28.5 billion in January-February 2024.

Intra-EU trade remained steady at €671.8 billion during January-February 2025, showing no significant change compared to the same period in 2024.

In February 2025, the EU surplus rebounded significantly compared to January 2025, rising from a deficit of €5.6 billion to a surplus of €23.0 billion. Compared to the same period last year, the chemicals sector witnessed a remarkable increase, with its balance rising from €17.3 billion to €28.6 billion.

Meanwhile, 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.

In February 2025, compared to January 2025, seasonally adjusted exports from the EU27 rose by 4.8 per cent, while imports grew by 1.1 per cent. The seasonally adjusted trade balance reached €19.0 billion, up by €10.6 billion compared to January.

In the last three months, seasonally adjusted exports and imports in the EU rose by 5.7 per cent and 2.7 per cent, respectively.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (SG)