The Euro Area posted a €7.8 billion trade deficit in May 2026, compared with a €15 billion surplus in May 2025 and worse than market expectations of a €1.6 billion gap. This marked the largest monthly trade shortfall since April 2023, as exports of goods increased by just 0.1% to €243.6 billion, while imports jumped by 10% to €251.4 billion. The latest figure represents a deterioration of nearly €23 billion from a year ago, primarily driven by a widening of the energy deficit to €30.3 billion from €21.9 billion in May 2025 and by reduced surpluses in machinery and vehicles (€4.4 billion from €12.4 billion), as well as in chemical and related products (€18.4 billion from €23.8 billion). Among major partners, shipments to the US dropped 13.9%, with exports to China (-2.9%) and Turkey (-14.6%) also down. Imports rose sharply from Brazil (25.4%), the US (17.8%) and the UK (13.7%). Considering January-May 2026, the bloc's trade surplus shrank to €3.3 billion from €78.7 billion a year ago. source: EUROSTAT

Euro Area recorded a trade deficit of 7776.20 EUR Million in May of 2026. Balance of Trade in Euro Area averaged 5866.88 EUR Million from 1999 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 35483.00 EUR Million in March of 2025 and a record low of -54995.00 EUR Million in August of 2022. This page provides the latest reported value for - Euro Area Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Euro Area Balance of Trade - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2026.

Euro Area recorded a trade deficit of 7776.20 EUR Million in May of 2026. Balance of Trade in Euro Area is expected to be 7000.00 EUR Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Euro Area Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 11000.00 EUR Million in 2027 and 10000.00 EUR Million in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-06-15 09:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Apr €-1B €4.9B €7.8B €12.5B
2026-07-16 09:00 AM
Balance of Trade
May €-7.8B €-1.2B €-1.6B €6.5B
2026-08-14 09:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Jun €-7.8B € 5B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade -7776.20 -1200.00 EUR Million May 2026
Current Account to GDP 1.70 2.70 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Exports 243624.10 255306.50 EUR Million May 2026
Imports 251400.30 256554.20 EUR Million May 2026


Euro Area Balance of Trade
The Euro Area is one of the world’s biggest players in global trade. The bloc runs regular trade surpluses primarily due to the high export of manufactured goods such as machinery and vehicles. However, it is a net importer of energy and raw materials. Germany by far contributes the most to surplus followed by Netherlands, Ireland, and Italy. On the other hand, the deficits are constantly recorded in France and Spain. Still, in 2022, the block run the biggest trade deficit on record as the energy imports surged after the war in Ukraine forced the members to reduce energy imports from Russia and destabilized the energy markets. .
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-7776.20 -1200.00 35483.00 -54995.00 1999 - 2026 EUR Million Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Euro Area Logs Widest Trade Gap Since 2023
The Euro Area posted a €7.8 billion trade deficit in May 2026, compared with a €15 billion surplus in May 2025 and worse than market expectations of a €1.6 billion gap. This marked the largest monthly trade shortfall since April 2023, as exports of goods increased by just 0.1% to €243.6 billion, while imports jumped by 10% to €251.4 billion. The latest figure represents a deterioration of nearly €23 billion from a year ago, primarily driven by a widening of the energy deficit to €30.3 billion from €21.9 billion in May 2025 and by reduced surpluses in machinery and vehicles (€4.4 billion from €12.4 billion), as well as in chemical and related products (€18.4 billion from €23.8 billion). Among major partners, shipments to the US dropped 13.9%, with exports to China (-2.9%) and Turkey (-14.6%) also down. Imports rose sharply from Brazil (25.4%), the US (17.8%) and the UK (13.7%). Considering January-May 2026, the bloc's trade surplus shrank to €3.3 billion from €78.7 billion a year ago.
2026-07-16
Euro Area Trade Balance Swings to Deficit in April
The Euro Area recorded a €1.0 billion trade deficit in April 2026, compared with a €8.7 billion surplus in April 2025 and missing market expectations of a €7.8 billion surplus. Exports of goods increased by 5.0% to €255.4 billion, while imports rose faster, climbing 9.3% to €256.4 billion. The latest data represents a deterioration of €9.7 billion and marks a decline from the €4.9 billion surplus recorded in March 2026. The weaker balance was mainly driven by a widening energy deficit and a smaller surplus in the machinery and vehicles category. For the January to April 2026 period, the Euro Area posted a trade surplus of €12.9 billion, significantly below the €63.7 billion surplus recorded during the same period in 2025.
2026-06-15
Eurozone Trade Surplus Plunges in March as Exports Slump
The Eurozone’s trade surplus collapsed to €7.8 billion in March 2026, down from a record €34.1 billion a year earlier, as exports fell 5.5% to €265.3 billion. The decline follows last year’s peak, when US consumers rushed to boost foreign purchases ahead of tariffs introduced in April 2025. Exports declined sharply in chemicals (-31.9%), machinery and vehicles (-2.0%), and food and drink (-1.3%). Shipments to the US plunged 38.8%, while exports to China (-4.6%) and Turkey (-9.3%) also fell. Meanwhile, imports grew 4.4% to €257.4 billion, driven by higher purchases of fuels and lubricants (8.3%) and crude materials (5.8%) due to soaring energy costs tied to the US-Israel-Iran conflict. Imports of machinery and vehicles also climbed 6.8%. Nearly all major trade partners saw increased imports, led by Switzerland (11%), Norway (8.6%), Japan (8.9%), and Brazil (4.6%). For Q1 2026, the surplus shrank to €16.6 billion from €55.4 billion in the same period of 2025.
2026-05-19