In April 2020, the coronavirus containment measures widely introduced by the Member States continued to have a significant impact on international trade in goods.
The first estimate for euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world in April 2020 was €136.6 billion, a decrease of 29.3% compared with April 2019 (€193.3 bn). Imports from the rest of the world stood at €133.7 bn, a fall of 24.8% compared with April 2019 (€177.8 bn).
As a result, the euro area recorded a €2.9 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in April 2020, compared with +€15.5 bn in April 2019. Intra-euro area trade fell to €112.4 bn in April 2020, down by 32.2% compared with April 2019.
European Union
The first estimate for extra-EU exports of goods in April 2020 was €125.4 billion, down by 28.2% compared with April 2019 (€174.7 bn). Imports from the rest of the world stood at €125.1 bn, down by 22.7% compared with April 2019 (€161.8 bn).
As a result, the EU recorded a €0.2 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in April
2020, compared with +€12.9 bn in April 2019. Intra-EU trade fell to €175.2 bn in April 2020, -32% compared with April 2019.
In January to April 2020, extra-EU exports of goods fell to €638.2 bn (a decrease of 8.3% compared with JanuaryApril 2019), and imports fell to €590.5 bn (a decrease of 9% compared with January-April 2019).
As a result, the EU recorded a surplus of €47.7 bn, compared with +€46.9 bn in January-April 2019. Intra-EU trade fell to €931.7 bn in January-April 2020, -10.2% compared with January-April 2019.
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. ■
A Fall heatwave will continue into the weekend over portions of the Desert Southwest and central/southern California as a persistent trend of upper-ridging over the region remains in place.