FX.co ★ Euro Area Trade Surplus Narrows in December

The euro area’s trade surplus narrowed to €12.6 billion in December 2025, down from €13.9 billion a year earlier, as imports grew more quickly than exports. This signals a softening in the external balance despite an overall increase in trade flows. Exports rose 3.4% year-on-year to €234.0 billion, while imports climbed 4.2% to €221.3 billion, reducing the monthly surplus by €1.3 billion.

The weaker surplus was largely attributable to smaller positive balances in chemicals (€16.5 billion versus €20.2 billion in December 2024), machinery and vehicles, other manufactured goods, and raw materials. Offsetting this to some extent, the energy deficit improved, narrowing to €19.1 billion from €24.5 billion a year earlier.

For the full year 2025, the euro area posted a trade surplus of €164.6 billion, slightly below the €168.9 billion recorded in 2024. Over the year, exports increased by 2.4%, but imports grew at a faster pace of 2.7%.