The euro zone registered a trade surplus of 2,800 million in February

April 16, 2012   Stock Market   No comments

Foreign trade in the euro area in February showed a surplus of 2,800 million euros, after a deficit of 2,800 million euros the same month last year and a deficit of 7,900 million in January, reported Eurostat, the EU statistical office.

Across the European Union, however, the balance was negative, with a deficit of 9,400 million euros, but below the 10,500 million deficit in February 2011 and 23,500 million in the red for the first month of this year .

Spain was the third country trade deficit had increased in February (3.600 million), behind France (7,800 million) and Italy (4.300 million), while the surplus were most marked in Germany (13,100 million, Jan. ), Netherlands (4,200 million) and Ireland (3,200 million).

Eurostat highlights the increasing energy deficit (which came to 35,200 million euros in January, compared with 32,400 million for the same month last year) and the increase of the surplus for manufactured goods (14,700 million, compared to 6,100 million .)

Exports to most trading partners of the EU grew in January compared to same period last year, except Norway (4% less) and Turkey (1%).

The most significant increases were recorded in exports to Russia (25%), Brazil (24%), Switzerland (22%) and South Korea (20%).

Imports, meanwhile, showed the greatest increases in products from Russia and Norway (both 9%) and falls most important articles in Japan and Turkey (both 6%).

In the business relationship with the United States, Eurostat figures show an increase in the surplus to the 5,900 million euros in January this year compared with 4,100 million a year earlier, while Switzerland was limited to 3,000 million euros (1,100 million compared to January 2011).

In China, however, the trade deficit fell to 14,700 million euros, after 15,800 million a year earlier, and Japan came to 1,100 million euros from 2,100 million.

Trade relations with Russia remained almost stable at a deficit of 9,600 million euros, compared with 9,700 million a year earlier, while in Norway there was a deficit of 5,200 million compared to the previous 4,400 million.

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