The euro area posted a trade surplus of €9.9 billion in April, down sharply from €37.3 billion in March and below expectations of a smaller decline to €18.2 billion, driven by a steep decline in the chemicals trade surplus.

• Exports fell -8.2% MoM and -1.4% YoY, while imports fell -3.0% MoM but were still slightly higher on an annual basis (+0.1% YoY).
• Intra-euro area trade edged up 0.4% MoM but decreased -2.0% YoY in April.
• The chemicals trade surplus dropped from €42.8 billion in March to €22.1 billion in April, and machinery & vehicles surplus fell to €12.8 billion from €18.1 billion.
• The euro area recorded a €71.0B trade surplus in Jan–Apr 2025, up from €68.6B in the same period of 2024.
• EU trade balance also fell to €7.4B in April from €12.8B a year earlier, with exports down -1.9% YoY and imports up +0.5% YoY.