EU-27 trade in chemical products in 2007

In 2007, the EU was the main player in the trade in chemical products, essentially due to its significant exports. This resulted in a large positive trade balance (€77 billion). The two other major players, the United States and China, both registered a trade deficit; that for the US being comparatively small (€3 billion against €34 billion for China). The US was by far the most important trading partner of the EU, both in terms of exports and imports. Exports to the US accounted for 28% of the total EU exports of chemical products. Switzerland and Russia, the second and third main importers of EU chemicals respectively, accounted for far less impressive shares (10% and 6%). ‘Medicinal and pharmaceutical products’ were by far the most important in EU exports with a value of €73.3 billion in 2007, corresponding to 37% of the total exports of chemicals. ‘Organic chemicals’ came second with a share of 19%. The most exported product categories were also the most imported ones. Within the EU, Germany was the main player for both exports and imports. Three Member States followed, all with fairly similar shares: Belgium, France and the United Kingdom. Germany displayed the highest extra-EU surplus with €24.4 billion and Ireland ranked second with a surplus of €15 billion. Nine Member States registered extra-EU trade deficits, but none of them was substantial.