Euro area
The first estimates of euro area balance showed a €7.8 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in March 2026, compared with +€34.1 bn in March 2025.
The euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world in March 2026 were €265.3 billion, a decrease of 5.5% compared with March 2025 (€280.6 bn).
Imports from the rest of the world stood at €257.4 bn, a rise of 4.4% compared with March 2025 (€246.5 bn).
In March 2026, the euro area trade balance registered a surplus of €7.8 bn, down from €11.1 bn in February 2026.
Compared with March 2025, when the surplus was €34.1 bn, the latest figure represents a sharp decrease of €26.3 bn. This decline was primarily driven by substantial reductions in the surpluses of the chemicals and related products group and the machinery and vehicles group. The first group recorded the most pronounced drop, with its surplus nearly halving, from €41.8 bn in March 2025 to €18.9 bn in March 2026, while the second group saw a less steep but still significant decline, with its surplus falling from €17.6 bn to €9.7 bn over the same period.
In January to March 2026, the euro area recorded a surplus of €16.6 bn, compared with €55.4 bn in January-March 2025.
The euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world fell to €713.1 bn (a decrease of 6.5% compared with January-March 2025), and imports fell to €696.5 bn (a decrease of 1.5% compared with January-March 2025).
Intra-euro area trade rose to €685.5 bn in January-March 2026, up by 1.9% compared with January-March 2025.
|
Euro area trade – non seasonally adjusted data (bn €) |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Flows |
Mar 25 |
Mar 26 |
Growth |
Jan-Mar 25 |
Jan-Mar 26 |
Growth |
|
280.6 |
265.3 |
-5.5% |
762.6 |
713.1 |
-6.5% |
|
|
246.5 |
257.4 |
4.4% |
707.2 |
696.5 |
-1.5% |
|
|
34.1 |
7.8 |
55.4 |
16.6 |
|||
|
233.8 |
251.3 |
7.5% |
673.0 |
685.5 |
1.9% |
European Union
The EU balance showed a €5.9 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in March 2026, compared with +€34.0 bn in March 2025.
The extra-EU exports of goods in March 2026 were €233.9 billion, down by 8.7% compared with March 2025 (€256.1 bn).
Imports from the rest of the world stood at €228.0 bn, up by 2.7% compared with March 2025 (€222.1 bn).
In March 2026, the EU trade balance stood at a surplus of €5.9 bn, down from €9.1 bn in February 2026. This decline was influenced by a widening deficit in the energy group, which deteriorated from €-21.9 bn in February 2026 to €-28.6 bn in March 2026, partially offset by the increase of surplus in the chemicals and related products group, which moved from €14.9 bn to €17.6 bn over the same period.
Compared with March 2025, when the EU recorded a surplus of €34.0 bn, the latest figure represents a sharp decrease of €28.1 bn. This decline was primarily driven by substantial reductions in the surpluses of the chemicals and related products group and the machinery and vehicles group. The chemicals and related products group saw its surplus nearly halve, dropping from €40.8 bn in March 2025 to €17.6 bn in March 2026. Similarly, the machinery and vehicles group experienced a significant decline, with its surplus falling from €21.6 bn to €11.3 bn over the same period.
In January to March 2026, the EU recorded a surplus of €8.4 bn, compared with €50.7 bn in January-March 2025.
The extra-EU exports of goods fell to €630.0 bn (a decrease of 8.9% compared with January-March 2025), and imports fell to €621.6 bn (a decrease of 3.0% compared with January-March 2025).
Intra-EU trade rose to €1 068.4 bn in January-March 2026, +2.7% compared with January-March 2025.
|
EU trade – non seasonally adjusted data (bn €) |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Flows |
Mar 25 |
Mar 26 |
Growth |
Jan-Mar 25 |
Jan-Mar 26 |
Growth |
|
256.1 |
233.9 |
-8.7% |
691.8 |
630.0 |
-8.9% |
|
|
222.1 |
228.0 |
2.7% |
641.1 |
621.6 |
-3.0% |
|
|
34.0 |
5.9 |
50.7 |
8.4 |
|||
|
363.1 |
390.3 |
7.5% |
1 040.8 |
1 068.4 |
2.7% |
|
Main products – EU Bn €, monthly change compared to previous year |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Extra-EU exports |
Extra-EU imports |
Trade balance |
||||
|
Mar 26 |
Growth rates |
Mar 26 |
Growth rates |
Mar 26 |
Mar 25 |
|
|
233.9 |
-8.7% |
228.0 |
2.7% |
5.9 |
34.0 |
|
|
36.6 |
4.1% |
63.7 |
3.1% |
-27.1 |
-26.6 |
|
|
18.4 |
-0.7% |
13.8 |
-10.5% |
4.6 |
3.1 |
|
|
6.6 |
-0.3% |
9.7 |
5.1% |
-3.1 |
-2.6 |
|
|
11.6 |
15.8% |
40.2 |
8.2% |
-28.6 |
-27.1 |
|
|
188.7 |
-12.9% |
160.2 |
1.9% |
28.5 |
59.4 |
|
|
47.8 |
-34.7% |
30.2 |
-6.7% |
17.6 |
40.8 |
|
|
91.3 |
-3.4% |
80.0 |
9.9% |
11.3 |
21.6 |
|
|
49.6 |
1.2% |
49.9 |
-4.1% |
-0.3 |
-3.1 |
|
|
8.7 |
101.8% |
4.1 |
35.6% |
4.6 |
1.2 |
|
Main trading partners – EU Bn €, monthly change compared to previous year |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Extra-EU exports |
Extra-EU imports |
Trade balance |
||||
|
Mar 26 |
Growth rates |
Mar 26 |
Growth rates |
Mar 26 |
Mar 25 |
|
|
45.0 |
-37.1% |
31.5 |
1.1% |
13.5 |
40.4 |
|
|
17.7 |
-2.3% |
50.3 |
2.7% |
-32.6 |
-30.9 |
|
|
32.9 |
6.9% |
14.9 |
1.1% |
18.0 |
16.0 |
|
|
23.0 |
10.1% |
13.9 |
11.4% |
9.1 |
8.4 |
|
|
9.6 |
-7.5% |
8.8 |
-2.2% |
0.8 |
1.4 |
|
|
6.1 |
8.8% |
9.3 |
7.5% |
-3.2 |
-3.0 |
|
|
5.8 |
4.7% |
6.0 |
7.6% |
-0.2 |
0.0 |
|
|
4.3 |
1.6% |
6.4 |
4.8% |
-2.1 |
-1.9 |
|
|
4.8 |
-6.0% |
5.0 |
-16.3% |
-0.2 |
-0.8 |
|
|
4.0 |
-3.2% |
4.2 |
6.1% |
-0.2 |
0.2 |
Annex – Seasonally adjusted data
In March 2026 compared with February 2026, euro area seasonally adjusted exports increased by 2.1%, while imports increased by 3.5%. The seasonally adjusted balance was €3.5 bn, a fall compared with February (€6.5 bn).
In March 2026 compared with February 2026, EU seasonally adjusted exports increased by 1.5%, while imports increased by 3.2%. The seasonally adjusted balance was €0.1 bn, a fall compared with February (€3.6 bn).
In the first quarter of 2026 euro area exports to non euro area countries rose by 0.4%, while imports rose by 1.6%. Intra euro area trade rose by 0.7%.During the same period, EU exports to non-EU countries decreased by 0.1%, while imports rose by 1.7%. Intra-EU trade increased by 0.9%.
|
EA and EU trade – seasonally adjusted data – (bn €) |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Feb 26 |
Mar 26 |
growth rates |
Jan-Mar 26 |
Growth rates (compared to the previous three months) |
|
|
239.2 |
244.3 |
2.1% |
721.3 |
0.4% |
|
|
232.7 |
240.8 |
3.5% |
700.3 |
1.6% |
|
|
6.5 |
3.5 |
21.1 |
|||
|
224.3 |
229.3 |
2.2% |
677.1 |
0.7% |
|
|
212.7 |
215.9 |
1.5% |
640.5 |
-0.1% |
|
|
209.2 |
215.8 |
3.2% |
627.8 |
1.7% |
|
|
3.6 |
0.1 |
12.7 |
|||
|
350.6 |
357.4 |
1.9% |
1 056.5 |
0.9% |
Notes for users
Revisions and timetable
This News Release is based on information transmitted by Member States to Eurostat before 12 May 2026. Netherlands data not available for March 2026. The Euro area and EU aggregates include estimates produced by Eurostat
Figures are provisional. For more details, see information on data.
Methods and definitions
Statistics on trade in goods are transmitted monthly by the Member States, in accordance with the standard set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197. For each reference month, Member States must compile statistics covering their total extra- and intra-EU trade by using estimates, where necessary. These data are available within 40 days after the end of the reference month, enabling euro area and EU aggregates to be disseminated within around 46 days.
Member States provide Eurostat with raw data, which are adjusted for calendar and seasonal effects by Eurostat. The European aggregates are computed with the indirect approach (by Member States) for total imports and exports, which guarantees additivity between the aggregate and its respective components. The estimation of seasonally adjusted data is based on the Tramo-Seats procedure, which is available in the software JDemetra+.
Data are broken down by broad categories of products as defined by the one-digit codes of the Standard international trade classification (SITC).
Geographical information
Euro area (EA21): Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland.
The European Union (EU27) includes Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.