Eurozone trade surplus rises in July - Eurostat

According to the report from Eurostat, in July 2020, the COVID-19 containment measures widely introduced by the Member States continued to have a noticeable impact on international trade in goods. The first estimate for euro area (EA19) exports of goods to the rest of the world was €185.2 billion, a decrease of 10.4% compared with July 2019 (€206.7 bn). Imports from the rest of the world stood at €157.3 bn, a fall of 14.3% compared with July 2019 (€183.5 bn). As a result, the euro area recorded a €27.9 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in July 2020, compared with +€23.2 bn in July 2019. Intra-euro area trade fell to €153.7 bn in July 2020, down by 8.6% compared with July 2019.

In January to July 2020, euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world fell to €1 199.6 bn (a decrease of 12.4% compared with January-July 2019), and imports fell to €1 086.6 bn (a decrease of 13.1% compared with January-July 2019). As a result the euro area recorded a surplus of €113.0 bn, compared with +€119.3 bn in January-July 2019. Intra-euro area trade fell to €1 021.8 bn in January-July 2020, down by 13,0% compared with January-July 2019.