Data from the Eurostat showed that in September, the trade surplus rose to 12.5 billion euros from 4.1 billion euros in August (revised from 4.6 billion euros). This increase was mainly driven by an increase of surplus for machinery and vehicles (from +9.7 billion euros to +13.8 billion euros) and a reduced deficit for energy (from -25.7 billion euros to -22.3 billion euros). Economists had expected the surplus to increase to 7.9 billion euros. Exports of goods increased by 0.6% per annum, to 237.8 billion euros, while imports of goods fell by 0.6% per annum, to 225.3 billion euros.
According to the report, from January to September, exports of goods increased by 0.4% per annum, to 2136.7 billion euros, and imports decreased by 5.6% per annum, to 1995.8 billion euros. As a result, the trade surplus amounted to 140.8 billion euros, compared with 13.9 billion euros in January to September 2023. Intra-euro area trade fell to 1931.9 billion euros in January-September, down by 3.4% compared with January-September 2023.
The data also showed that in January to September, extra-EU exports of goods rose by 0.9% per annum, to 1922.1 billion euros, and imports fell by 5.7% per annum, to 1803.3 billion euros. As a result, the EU recorded a surplus of 118.7 billion euros, compared with a deficit of 6.7 billion euros in January-September 2023. Intra-EU trade fell to 3023.5 billion euros in January-September, a decrease of 2.6% compared with January-September 2023.