In May 2025, the Eurozone experienced an increase in its trade surplus, reaching €16.2 billion compared to €12.7 billion the previous year. This growth was attributed to a 0.9% rise in exports alongside a 0.6% drop in imports. Similarly, the broader European Union (EU) saw its trade surplus expand to €13.1 billion from €8.9 billion. EU exports marginally increased by 0.1%, totaling €216.9 billion, bolstered by significant increases in the chemical sector (+12.1%) and food and beverage industry (+3.2%), effectively counterbalancing declines in machinery and vehicles (-2.4%).
Exports to major trading partners also saw an uptick, with the United States experiencing a rise of 4.4%, Switzerland 6.8%, and the United Kingdom 2.5%. On the import front, the EU procured €203.8 billion worth of goods, marking a 2% decrease from the previous year. This reduction was chiefly due to diminished demand for energy products (-18.7%) and raw materials (-1.7%). While imports from China increased by 3.4%, there were notable declines in imports from the United States (-7.4%) and the United Kingdom (-7.1%).
