Eurostat | Euro Area International Trade in Goods Surplus €7.8 bn

Euro area

The first estimates of euro area balance showed a €7.8 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in March 2026, compared with +€34.1 bn in March 2025.

The euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world in March 2026 were €265.3 billion, a decrease of 5.5% compared with March 2025 (€280.6 bn).

Imports from the rest of the world stood at €257.4 bn, a rise of 4.4% compared with March 2025 (€246.5 bn).

In March 2026, the euro area trade balance registered a surplus of €7.8 bn, down from €11.1 bn in February 2026.

Compared with March 2025, when the surplus was €34.1 bn, the latest figure represents a sharp decrease of €26.3 bn. This decline was primarily driven by substantial reductions in the surpluses of the chemicals and related products group and the machinery and vehicles group. The first group recorded the most pronounced drop, with its surplus nearly halving, from €41.8 bn in March 2025 to €18.9 bn in March 2026, while the second group saw a less steep but still significant decline, with its surplus falling from €17.6 bn to €9.7 bn over the same period.

In January to March 2026, the euro area recorded a surplus of €16.6 bn, compared with €55.4 bn in January-March 2025.

The euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world fell to €713.1 bn (a decrease of 6.5% compared with January-March 2025), and imports fell to €696.5 bn (a decrease of 1.5% compared with January-March 2025).

Intra-euro area trade rose to €685.5 bn in January-March 2026, up by 1.9% compared with January-March 2025.

European Union

The EU balance showed a €5.9 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in March 2026, compared with +€34.0 bn in March 2025.

The extra-EU exports of goods in March 2026 were €233.9 billion, down by 8.7% compared with March 2025 (€256.1 bn).

Imports from the rest of the world stood at €228.0 bn, up by 2.7% compared with March 2025 (€222.1 bn).

In March 2026, the EU trade balance stood at a surplus of €5.9 bn, down from €9.1 bn in February 2026. This decline was influenced by a widening deficit in the energy group, which deteriorated from €-21.9 bn in February 2026 to €-28.6 bn in March 2026, partially offset by the increase of surplus in the chemicals and related products group, which moved from €14.9 bn to €17.6 bn over the same period.

Compared with March 2025, when the EU recorded a surplus of €34.0 bn, the latest figure represents a sharp decrease of €28.1 bn. This decline was primarily driven by substantial reductions in the surpluses of the chemicals and related products group and the machinery and vehicles group. The chemicals and related products group saw its surplus nearly halve, dropping from €40.8 bn in March 2025 to €17.6 bn in March 2026. Similarly, the machinery and vehicles group experienced a significant decline, with its surplus falling from €21.6 bn to €11.3 bn over the same period.

In January to March 2026, the EU recorded a surplus of €8.4 bn, compared with €50.7 bn in January-March 2025.

The extra-EU exports of goods fell to €630.0 bn (a decrease of 8.9% compared with January-March 2025), and imports fell to €621.6 bn (a decrease of 3.0% compared with January-March 2025).

Intra-EU trade rose to €1 068.4 bn in January-March 2026, +2.7% compared with January-March 2025.

Annex – Seasonally adjusted data

In March 2026 compared with February 2026, euro area seasonally adjusted exports increased by 2.1%, while imports increased by 3.5%. The seasonally adjusted balance was €3.5 bn, a fall compared with February (€6.5 bn).

In March 2026 compared with February 2026, EU seasonally adjusted exports increased by 1.5%, while imports increased by 3.2%. The seasonally adjusted balance was €0.1 bn, a fall compared with February (€3.6 bn).

In the first quarter of 2026 euro area exports to non euro area countries rose by 0.4%, while imports rose by 1.6%. Intra euro area trade rose by 0.7%.During the same period, EU exports to non-EU countries decreased by 0.1%, while imports rose by 1.7%. Intra-EU trade increased by 0.9%.

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