Euro area external trade deficit 7.6 bn euro (23.8 bn euro deficit for EU27)

According to data released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union on 16 March 2012, the first estimate for the euro area (EA17) trade in goods balance with the rest of the world in January 2012 gave a 7.6 bn euro deficit, compared with -16.1 bn in January 2011. The December 2011 balance was +9.1 bn, compared with -1.7 bn in December 2010. In January 2012 compared with December 2011, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 1.3% and imports by 2.4%.

The first estimate for the January 2012 extra-EU27 trade balance was a 23.8 bn euro deficit, compared with -31.2 bn in January 2011. In December 20112 the balance was +1.6 bn, compared with -12.1 bn in December 2010. In January 2012 compared with December 2011, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 1.5% and imports by 3.5%.