The first estimate for euro area (EA19) exports of goods to the rest of the world in September 2020 was €190.3 billion, a decrease of 3.1% compared with September 2019 (€196.4 bn).
Article continues below
Euro area
Imports from the rest of the world stood at €165.5 bn, a fall of 7.1% compared with September 2019 (€178.1 bn).
As a result, the euro area recorded a €24.8 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in September 2020, compared with +€18.3 bn in September 2019. Intra-euro area trade fell to €164.2 bn in September 2020, down by 1.0% compared with September 2019.
In January to September 2020, euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world fell to €1 545.2 bn (a decrease of 11.3% compared with January-September 2019), and imports fell to €1 394.8 bn (a decrease of 12.4% compared with January-September 2019).
As a result the euro area recorded a surplus of €150.4 bn, compared with +€151.0 bn in January-September 2019. Intra-euro area trade fell to €1 313.6 bn in January-September 2020, down by 11.1% compared with January-September 2019.
European Union
The first estimate for extra-EU exports of goods in September 2020 was €171.0 billion, down by 3.8% compared with September 2019 (€177.8 bn). Imports from the rest of the world stood at €146.5 bn, down by 8.9% compared with September 2019 (€160.8 bn).
As a result, the EU recorded a €24.5 bn surplus in trade in goods with the
est of
the world in September 2020, compared with +€17.0 bn in September 2019. Intra-EU trade remained almost unchanged at €260.7 bn in September 2020.
In January to September 2020, extra-EU exports of goods fell to €1 400.6 bn (a decrease of 11.4% compared with January-September 2019), and imports fell to €1 266.1 bn (a decrease of 12.8% compared with JanuarySeptember 2019).
As a result, the EU recorded a surplus of €134.5 bn, compared with +€127.8 bn in JanuarySeptember 2019. Intra-EU trade fell to €2 068.5 bn in January-September 2020, -9.9% compared with JanuarySeptember 2019.
Annual comparison by Member State
In September 2020, compared with September 2019, exports of goods decreased for sixteen Member States, with the largest decreases registered in Greece (-23.0%) and Cyprus (-20.0%). In ten Member States exports showed an increase compared with September 2019. The largest increases were registered in Estonia
+24.7%), Latvia
(+13.9), Slovakia (+13.3%) and Slovenia (+10.2%).
With regard to imports, the picture is slightly different. In September 2020 compared to September 2019, all Member States recorded drops, with the exception of Latvia (+1.2%), Romania (+5.1%), Croatia (+7.5%) and Malta (+9.9%). The highest overall falls were observed in Cyprus (-38.3%) and Greece (-35.0%).
The euro area (EA19) includes Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, 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. ■