The first estimate for euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world in April this year was EUR 223.9 billion, an increase of 12.6% compared with the same month last year (EUR 198.8 billion). Extra-European Union (EU) exports of goods in April were worth EUR 198.5 billion, up by 10.8% compared with April 2021 (EUR 179.1 billion). Imports from the rest of the world to the euro area stood at EUR 256.4 billion in April this year—a rise of 39.4% compared with April 2021 (EUR 183.9 billion), driven again, in particular, by a further increase in energy imports. As a result, the euro area recorded a EUR 32.4 billion deficit in trade in goods with the rest of the world in April, compared with a surplus of EUR 14.9 billion in the same month last year. Intra-euro area trade rose to EUR 212.1 billion in April this year, up by 20.8% compared with April 2021.
In January to April 2022, euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world rose to EUR 891.7 billion—an increase of 15.7% compared with January-April last year, and imports rose to EUR 976.8 billion—an increase of 39.8% compared with the same period in 2021. As a result the euro area recorded a deficit of EUR -85.1 billion during the first four months of this year compared with a surplus of EUR 71.7 billion in the same period last year. Intra-euro area trade rose to EUR 851.7 billion during the period—up by 24% compared with January-April 2021. Imports from the rest of the world to the EU stood at EUR 242.1 billion in April this year—up by 45.4% compared with April 2021 (EUR 166.5 billion). As a result, the EU recorded a EUR 43.6-billion deficit in trade in goods with the rest of the world in April 2022 compared with a surplus of EUR 12.6 billion in April 2021. Intra-EU trade rose to EUR 329.7 billion in April 2022—a rise of 18.7% compared with April 2021.
In January to April 2022, extra-EU exports of goods rose to EUR 791 billion—an increase of 14.9% compared with January-April 2021, and imports rose to EUR 916.9 billion—a rise of 46.2% compared with January-April 2021. As a result, the EU recorded a deficit of EUR 125.9 billion compared with a surplus of EUR 61.1 billion in January-April 2021. Intra-EU trade rose to EUR 1 325.2 billion in January-April 2022—a rise of 21.8 % compared with January-April 2021, an official release said. In the first four months of this year, the highest increases were recorded in the imports and, with a lower value, exports of energy, leading to a significant increase in the EU trade deficit in energy.
