Imports increased 2.5 percent from the previous month to an all-time high of EUR 46.5 billion in April, boosted by higher purchases of aerospace products (3.1 percent), mainly from the US; automotive products (3.5 percent), mostly from Germany, Spain and the UK. Other significant gains were also recorded in refined oil (29.3 percent); chemical products (5.9 percent); textiles and leather (4.3 percent); ships, trains, and motorcycles (6.6 percent), and pharmaceutical products (1.8 percent).
Exports went up at a slightly faster 3 percent to EUR 41.6 billion, as sales rose mostly for aerospace products (46.9 percent); computer products (14.7 percent); natural hydrocarbon (7 percent); automotive products (7.4 percent), and agricultural products (10.8 percent). Other increases were also seen in jewelry, toys and furniture (2.6 percent); electrical equipment and household (1.2 percent), wood, paper, cardboard (3.2 percent).
