Euro area goods trade deficit widens to €16.1 billion in August
Imports grew faster than exports, while the wider EU recorded a €25.2 billion goods trade deficit.
The euro area’s goods trade with countries outside the currency bloc produced a €16.1 billion deficit in August 2026, Eurostat’s provisional estimates show. The shortfall was €1.7 billion a year earlier, while July 2026 had delivered a €10.7 billion surplus. These figures are not seasonally adjusted.
August imports reached €243.8 billion, rising 16.7 per cent from a year earlier. Exports increased 9.9 per cent to €227.7 billion. The euro area’s energy trade deficit widened to €26.7 billion from €21.3 billion.
Across the EU, the August goods trade deficit reached €25.2 billion, against €7.5 billion in August 2025. Imports increased 18.2 per cent to €228.0 billion, outpacing export growth of 9.4 per cent to €202.9 billion.
Eurostat identified machinery and vehicles as the main driver of the EU’s year-on-year deterioration: the category moved into a €2.5 billion deficit after a €7.3 billion surplus. The EU’s energy shortfall also increased, reaching €31.4 billion from €24.3 billion.
For January–August 2026, the euro area posted a €5.4 billion deficit, reversing the €90.9 billion surplus recorded a year earlier. The EU’s deficit over the same period was €46.1 billion, following a €76.4 billion surplus.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, euro area exports fell 1.2 per cent between July and August 2026, while imports rose 2.0 per cent. That left an adjusted deficit of €6.8 billion, following July’s €1.4 billion surplus.
