Euro area international trade in goods deficit €7.8 bn

The first estimates of euro area balance showed a €7.8 bn deficit in trade in goods with the rest of the world in May 2026, compared with a surplus of €15.0 bn in May 2025.

The euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world in May 2026 were €243.6 billion, an increase of 0.1% compared with May 2025 (€243.5 bn).

Imports from the rest of the world stood at €251.4 bn, a rise of 10.0% compared with May 2025 (€228.5 bn).

International trade in goods of the euro area

In May 2026, the euro area balance registered a deficit of €7.8 bn, down from a deficit of €1.2 bn in April 2026. Compared with May 2025, the latest figure showed a deterioration of €22.8 bn. This drop was primarily driven by a widening of the energy deficit and by reduced surpluses in machinery and vehicles, as well as in chemical and related products.

Euro area balance by product group In January to May 2026, the euro area recorded a surplus of €3.3 bn, compared with +€78.7 bn in January-May 2025.

The euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world fell to €1 214.2 bn (a decrease of 2.8% compared with January-May 2025), and imports rose to €1 210.9 bn (an increase of 3.4% compared with January-May 2025).

Intra-euro area trade rose to €1 156.7 bn in January-May 2026, up by 3.3% compared with January-May 2025.

Euro area trade - non seasonally adjusted data (bn €)
Flows	May 25	May 26	Growth	Jan-May 25	Jan-May 26	Growth
Extra-EA exports	243.5	243.6	0.1%	1 249.8	1 214.2	-2.8%
Extra-EA imports	228.5	251.4	10.0%	1 171.1	1 210.9	3.4%
Extra-EA trade balance	15.0	-7.8		78.7	3.3
Intra-EA trade	222.7	229.0	2.8%	1 119.6	1 156.7	3.3%
Source dataset: ext_st_ea_sitc

European Union

The EU balance showed a €12.1 bn deficit in trade in goods with the rest of the world in May 2026, compared with a surplus of €12.7 bn in May 2025.

The extra-EU exports of goods in May 2026 were €215.7 billion, down by 1.1% compared with May 2025 (€218.2 bn).

Imports from the rest of the world stood at €227.8 bn, up by 10.8% compared with May 2025 (€205.5 bn).

International trade in goods of the EU

In May 2026, the EU balance recorded a deficit of €12.1 billion.

Compared with May 2025, this represented a deterioration of €24.8 billion. The weakening was mainly driven by a larger energy deficit and by smaller surpluses in machinery and vehicles, as well as in chemical and related products.

EU balance by product group In January to May 2026, the EU recorded a deficit of €15.9 bn, compared with +€70.1 bn in January-May 2025.

The extra-EU exports of goods fell to €1 074.4 bn (a decrease of 4.8% compared with January-May 2025), and imports rose to €1 090.3 bn (an increase of 3.0% compared with January-May 2025).

Intra-EU trade rose to €1 807.2 bn in January-May 2026, +4.3% compared with January-May 2025.

EU trade - non seasonally adjusted data (bn €)
Flows	May 25	May 26	Growth	Jan-May 25	Jan-May 26	Growth
Extra-EU exports	218.2	215.7	-1.1%	1 129.1	1 074.4	-4.8%
Extra-EU imports	205.5	227.8	10.8%	1 059.0	1 090.3	3.0%
Extra-EU trade balance	12.7	-12.1		70.1	-15.9
Intra-EU trade	345.4	358.4	3.8%	1 732.9	1 807.2	4.3%
Source dataset: ext_st_eu27_2020sitc

Main products - EU Bn €, monthly change compared to previous year
	Extra-EU exports		Extra-EU imports		Trade balance
	May 26	Growth rates	May 26	Growth rates	May 26	May 25
Total	215.7	-1.1%	227.8	10.8%	-12.1	12.7
Primary goods:	36.7	13.0%	70.8	23.0%	-34.1	-25.1
Food & drink	17.2	-4.4%	14.0	-9.6%	3.2	2.5
Raw materials	6.3	12.4%	9.0	8.3%	-2.7	-2.8
Energy	13.2	48.7%	47.7	41.6%	-34.5	-24.8
Manufactured goods:	173.5	-4.3%	153.8	5.9%	19.7	36.1
Chemicals	45.5	-12.6%	28.9	-1.0%	16.6	22.9
Machinery & vehicles	82.9	0.5%	77.9	14.8%	5.0	14.7
Other manuf’d goods	45.0	-3.4%	47.0	-2.4%	-2.0	-1.5
Other	5.6	23.4%	3.3	15.1%	2.3	1.7
Source dataset: ext_st_eu27_2020sitc

Main trading partners - EU Bn €, monthly change compared to previous year
	Extra-EU exports		Extra-EU imports		Trade balance
	May 26	Growth rates	May 26	Growth rates	May 26	May 25
United States	40.8	-12.3%	32.9	17.1%	7.9	18.4
China	15.5	-4.5%	46.3	4.9%	-30.8	-28.0
United Kingdom	29.9	2.1%	14.5	12.1%	15.4	16.3
Switzerland	19.9	14.8%	12.5	-1.5%	7.4	4.7
Türkiye	8.5	-11.3%	8.5	-2.3%	0.0	0.9
Norway	6.0	10.5%	10.2	30.4%	-4.2	-2.4
India	4.3	19.2%	6.2	5.3%	-1.9	-2.3
South Korea	3.9	-7.9%	6.2	8.4%	-2.3	-1.4
Japan	4.9	-22.3%	5.0	-8.4%	-0.1	0.8
Brazil	4.1	11.2%	5.0	25.6%	-0.9	-0.3
Source dataset: ext_st_eu27_2020sitc

Annex - Seasonally adjusted data

In May 2026 compared with April 2026, euro area seasonally adjusted exports increased by 0.6%, while imports increased by 2.8%. The seasonally adjusted balance was €-5.0 bn, a fall compared with April (€0.8 bn).

In May 2026 compared with April 2026, EU seasonally adjusted exports increased by 0.7%, while imports increased by 2.5%. The seasonally adjusted balance was €-9.0 bn, a fall compared with April (€-4.7 bn).

In March-May 2026, euro area exports to non-EA countries rose by 5.0%, while imports rose by 9.4%. Intra-EA trade rose by 4.6%. During the same period, EU exports to non-EU countries increased by 4.4%, while imports rose by 10.3%. Intra-EU trade increased by 4.8%.

EA and EU trade - seasonally adjusted data - (bn €)
	Apr 26	May 26	growth rates	Mar-May 26	Growth rates (compared to the previous three months)
Euro area
Extra-EA exports	254.3	255.7	0.6%	756.6	5.0%
Extra-EA imports	253.4	260.6	2.8%	761.3	9.4%
Balance	0.8	-5.0		-4.7
Intra-EA	236.4	236.0	-0.2%	706.0	4.6%
EU
Extra-EU exports	225.6	227.1	0.7%	671.1	4.4%
Extra-EU imports	230.4	236.2	2.5%	689.4	10.3%
Balance	-4.7	-9.0		-18.3
Intra-EU	369.4	370.1	0.2%	1 104.3	4.8%
Source Datasets: ext_st_ea_sitc (Euro area), ext_st_eu27_2020sitc (EU)

International trade in goods balance

Notes for users

Revisions and timetable

This News Release is based on information transmitted by Member States to Eurostat before 13 July 2026 . Figures are provisional. For more details, see information on data.

Methods and definitions

Statistics on trade in goods are transmitted monthly by the Member States, in accordance with the standard set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197. For each reference month, Member States must compile statistics covering their total extra- and intra-EU trade by using estimates, where necessary. These data are available within 40 days after the end of the reference month, enabling euro area and EU aggregates to be disseminated within around 46 days.

Member States provide Eurostat with raw data, which are adjusted for calendar and seasonal effects by Eurostat. The European aggregates are computed with the indirect approach (by Member States) for total imports and exports, which guarantees additivity between the aggregate and its respective components. The estimation of seasonally adjusted data is based on the Tramo-Seats procedure, which is available in the software JDemetra+.

Data are broken down by broad categories of products as defined by the one-digit codes of the Standard international trade classification (SITC).

Geographical information

Euro area (EA21): Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland.

The European Union (EU27) includes Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.