The Euro Area posted a trade deficit of €16.1 billion in August of 2026, swinging from a €502 million surplus in the previous year to mark the largest deficit since January of 2023. Imports surged by 16.7% from the previous year to €243.8 billion, the second-highest August figure on record after 2022, as the war in the Middle East and the resulting blockade of tankers leaving the Persian Gulf lifted petroleum and petroleum product purchases by 20.7% to €27 billion. Similarly, chemical imports rose by 11.2% to €29.8 billion and those for manufactured products surged by 12.7% to €169.3 billion. Exports rose by 9.9% to €227.7 billion, amid higher foreign sales of manufactured goods (5.9% to €179.3 billion). Exports to the United States totaled €39.3 billion, an 18.5% increase from the previous year, reflecting some consolidation in trade following the series of tariffs passed by the US last year. source: EUROSTAT

Euro Area recorded a trade deficit of 16109.50 EUR Million in August of 2026. Balance of Trade in Euro Area averaged 5791.46 EUR Million from 1999 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 35483.00 EUR Million in March of 2025 and a record low of -54995.00 EUR Million in August of 2022. This page provides the latest reported value for - Euro Area Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Euro Area Balance of Trade - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on October of 2026.

Euro Area recorded a trade deficit of 16109.50 EUR Million in August of 2026. Balance of Trade in Euro Area is expected to be 11000.00 EUR Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Euro Area Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 9000.00 EUR Million in 2027 and 11000.00 EUR Million in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-09-15 09:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Jul €14.2B €7.2B €14.4B
2026-10-16 09:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Aug €-16.1B €10.7B €14.7B
2026-11-13 10:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Sep €-16.1B €11.5B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade -16109.50 10700.00 EUR Million Aug 2026
Current Account to GDP 1.60 2.70 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Exports 227681.40 276027.70 EUR Million Aug 2026
Imports 248790.90 261836.90 EUR Million Aug 2026


Euro Area Balance of Trade
The Euro Area is one of the world’s biggest players in global trade. The bloc runs regular trade surpluses primarily due to the high export of manufactured goods such as machinery and vehicles. However, it is a net importer of energy and raw materials. Germany by far contributes the most to surplus followed by Netherlands, Ireland, and Italy. On the other hand, the deficits are constantly recorded in France and Spain. Still, in 2022, the block run the biggest trade deficit on record as the energy imports surged after the war in Ukraine forced the members to reduce energy imports from Russia and destabilized the energy markets. .
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-16109.50 10700.00 35483.00 -54995.00 1999 - 2026 EUR Million Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Euro Area Posts Widest Trade Deficit in Over 3 Years
The Euro Area posted a trade deficit of €16.1 billion in August of 2026, swinging from a €502 million surplus in the previous year to mark the largest deficit since January of 2023. Imports surged by 16.7% from the previous year to €243.8 billion, the second-highest August figure on record after 2022, as the war in the Middle East and the resulting blockade of tankers leaving the Persian Gulf lifted petroleum and petroleum product purchases by 20.7% to €27 billion. Similarly, chemical imports rose by 11.2% to €29.8 billion and those for manufactured products surged by 12.7% to €169.3 billion. Exports rose by 9.9% to €227.7 billion, amid higher foreign sales of manufactured goods (5.9% to €179.3 billion). Exports to the United States totaled €39.3 billion, an 18.5% increase from the previous year, reflecting some consolidation in trade following the series of tariffs passed by the US last year.
2026-10-16
Euro Area Trade Surplus Highest in 9 Months
The Euro Area recorded a trade surplus of €14.2 billion in July 2026, the highest in nine months, up from €10.7 billion in July 2025. This was the largest monthly trade surplus since October 2025, as goods exports surged by 9% to an over 16-month high of €276 billion while imports rose at a slower 7.9% to €261.8 billion. The latest figure represented an improvement of €3.5 billion compared to the same period a year ago, supported primarily by a stronger surplus in chemicals and related products and additional surpluses in other manufactured goods and food and drink, which more than offset a lower surplus in machinery and vehicles. Meanwhile, the energy gap narrowed (€-26.1 billion from €-28 billion). Shipments fell to China (-1.6%), but increased to other major trading partners, including the US (10.7%), the UK (3.1%) and Switzerland (14.2%). Imports also rose from the US (12.6%), and the UK (16.7%), but fell from China (-32.3%).
2026-09-15
Euro Area Posts Surprise Trade Surplus in June
The Euro Area recorded a trade surplus of €8.6 billion in June 2026, up from €4.8 billion in June 2025 and better than market expectations of a €2.2 billion gap. This was the largest monthly trade surplus since February, as goods exports surged by 14.4% to an over one-year high of €272.5 billion while imports rose at a slower 13.1% to €264 billion. The latest figure represented an improvement of €3.8 billion compared to the same period a year ago, supported primarily by a stronger surplus in chemicals and related products and additional surpluses in other manufactured goods and food and drink, which more than offset the larger energy deficit. The machinery and vehicles surplus also registered a modest improvement. Shipments increased to all major trading partners, including the US (10.3%), China (14.4%), the UK (7.7%) and Turkey (6.5%). Imports also rose across the board, particularly from the US (11.6%), China (12%) and the UK (12.1%).
2026-08-14