The Eurozone posted a trade surplus of EUR 23 billion in June 2023, compared with a deficit of EUR 27.1 billion in the same month a year ago and beating market expectations of EUR 18.3 billion. Imports slipped by 17.7% year-on-year to EUR 229.3 billion, mainly due to lower acquisitions of raw materials (-30.3%); crude materials (-29.4%); mineral fuels, lubricants (-47.5%); manufactured goods (-8.3%) and miscellaneous manufactured products (-7.2%). Among major trade partners, imports declined mainly from Russia, China, the UK and the US. Conversely, exports rose 0.3% to EUR 252.3 billion, mainly driven by shipments of machinery & transport equipment (+10.7%); food, beverages & tobacco (+3.1%) and manufactured goods (+3.4%). Overseas sales rose mostly to China, the UK, Japan and Turkey.
