According to the data published by Eurostat and the National Institute of Statistics, the first estimate for euro area trade with the rest of the world in October 2011 gave a EUR 1.1 billion surplus as compared with EUR 3.1 billion in October 2010. The September 20112 balance was EUR 2.7 billion as compared with EUR 0.3 billion in September 2010.

In October 2011 as compared with September 2011, seasonally adjusted exports fell by 1.9% and imports by 0.7%.

The first estimate for the October 2011 extra EU 27 trade balance was a EUR 11 billion deficit, compared with EUR 9.6 billion in October 2010. In September 2011 the balance was EUR 10.6 billion, compared with EUR 13.9 billion in September 2010. In October 2011 compared with September 2011, seasonally adjusted exports fell by 0.7%, while imports rose by 0.5%.

The EU 27 deficit for energy increased significantly (EUR 280.9 billion euro in January to September 2011 compared with EUR 221.6 billion in January to September 2010), while the surplus for manufactured goods rose notably (EUR 178.5 billion compared with EUR 121.0 billion).

EU 27 trade with all its major partners grew in January to September 2011 compared with January to September 2010, except for imports from South Korea (-9%). The highest increases were recorded for exports to Russia (+29%), Turkey (+26%), China (+21%) and India (+20%), and for imports from Russia (+26%), Brazil, India and Norway (all +22%).

The EU 27 trade surplus increased with the USA (EUR 55.1 billion in January to September 2011 compared with EUR 52.4 billion in January to September 2010), Switzerland (EUR 21.2 billion compared with EUR 14.2 billion) and Turkey (EUR 19.5 billion compared with EUR 12.9 billion). The EU 27 trade deficit fell with China (EUR 118.0 billion compared with EUR 122.6 billion), Japan (EUR 15.1 billion compared with EUR 16.7 billion) and South Korea (EUR 3.3 billion compared with EUR 9.2 billion), but increased with Russia (EUR 67.9 billion compared with EUR 56.1 billion) and Norway (EUR 35.6 billion compared with EUR 26.9 billion).

Concerning the total trade of Member States, the largest surplus was observed in Germany (EUR 117.9 billion in January to September 2011), followed by the Netherlands (EUR 32.8 billion) and Ireland (EUR 32.4 billion). The United Kingdom (EUR 88.1 billion) registered the largest deficit, followed by France (EUR 65.8 billion), Spain (EUR 36.7 billion), Italy (EUR 23.1 billion), Greece (EUR 13.2 billion), Portugal (EUR 12.4 billion) and Poland (EUR 10.8 billion).