Eurozone Records Wider Trade Surplus in May Amid Growth in Chemicals and Capital Goods Exports

The eurozone recorded a significant increase in its trade surplus in May, driven by a rebound in the chemicals sector and a smaller energy deficit. According to data from Eurostat, the goods trade surplus widened to EUR16.2 billion in May, compared to EUR11.1 billion in April and EUR12.7 billion a year before. Exports to the rest of the world totaled EUR242.6 billion, up 0.9% year-on-year, while imports declined 0.6% to EUR226.5 billion. The improved balance was primarily driven by a rebound in the chemicals sector, where the trade surplus increased to EUR24.3 billion from EUR19.5 billion in the same period last year.

Key Takeaways:

The eurozone recorded a wider trade surplus of EUR16.2 billion in May, up from EUR11.1 billion in April and EUR12.7 billion a year before.
Exports to the rest of the world totaled EUR242.6 billion, up 0.9% year-on-year, while imports declined 0.6% to EUR226.5 billion.
The rebound in the chemicals sector drove the improved balance, with the trade surplus increasing to EUR24.3 billion from EUR19.5 billion in the same period last year.
The eurozone's cumulative trade surplus for the five months from January to May stood at EUR86.5 billion, compared with EUR81.4 billion in the same period of 2024.
Exports rose 4.6% to EUR1.25 trillion, and imports increased 4.5% to EUR1.16 trillion in the five-month period.
Intra-euro area trade grew 1.0% to EUR1.10 trillion in the five-month period.
Across the wider EU, the trade surplus stood at EUR13.1 billion in May, up from EUR8.9 billion a year before.
The EU's trade surplus for January to May stood at EUR72.0 billion, little changed from EUR72.6 billion in the same period last year.

Statistics:

EUR16.2 billion: Eurozone's trade surplus in May
0.9%: Year-on-year growth in exports
0.6%: Year-on-year decline in imports
EUR242.6 billion: Total exports to the rest of the world in May
EUR226.5 billion: Total imports from the rest of the world in May
EUR24.3 billion: Trade surplus in the chemicals sector in May
EUR86.5 billion: Eurozone's cumulative trade surplus for January to May
EUR1.25 trillion: Total exports in the five-month period
EUR1.16 trillion: Total imports in the five-month period
EUR1.10 trillion: Intra-euro area trade in the five-month period
EUR13.1 billion: EU's trade surplus in May
EUR72.0 billion: EU's trade surplus for January to May

Sources:

Eurostat (original text does not provide a date, but the text mentions a year before May as "last year" and "same period last year")