Euro area exports of goods in April were worth €247.6 billion (~$265.7 billion)—an increase of 14 per cent year on year (YoY). Imports from the rest of the world stood at €232.5 billion (~$249.5 billion)—a rise of 1.8 per cent YoY.

The euro area surplus decreased from €23.7 billion in March this year to €15 billion in April, an Eurostat release said.

Between January and April this year, the euro area recorded a surplus of €72.8 billion compared with €20.5 billion in the corresponding period last year.

The euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world rose to €953.0 billion during the first four months this year—a YoY increase of 0.8 per cent, and imports fell to €880.2 billion—a YoY decrease of 8.9 per cent.

Intra-euro area trade fell to €874.9 billion in the four-month period—down by 5.1 per cent compared with the corresponding period last year.

The EU balance showed a €13.9-billion ($14.91 billion) surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in April 2024, compared with a deficit of €14.2 billion ($15.24 billion) in April 2023 and a surplus of €22.5 billion ($24.14 billion) in March this year.

The extra-EU exports of goods in April this year was €222.1 billion—up by 14.9 per cent compared with April 2023 (€193.3 billion). Imports from the rest of the world stood at €208.1 billion—up by 0.3 per cent compared with April 2023 (€207.4 billion).

In January-April 2024, extra-EU exports of goods rose to €851.6 billion—an increase of 0.9 per cent YoY, and imports fell to €785.4 billion—a decrease of 10.4 per cent YoY. As a result, the EU recorded a surplus of €66.2 billion compared with €33.3 billion in the corresponding period last year.

Intra-EU trade fell by 3.9 per cent YoY to €1 370.1 billion in January-April 2024.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)