The euro area’s trade deficit widened to €1.9 billion in January 2026 from €1.4 billion a year earlier, falling well short of market expectations for a €12.8 billion surplus. Exports declined 7.6% year on year to €215.3 billion, while imports fell 7.3% to €217.2 billion, pushing the overall deficit up by €0.5 billion.
The deterioration was driven mainly by a sharp weakening in chemicals and related products, where the trade surplus narrowed from €24.6 billion in January 2025 to €16.7 billion in January 2026. The machinery and vehicles sector also lost momentum, with its surplus shrinking from €5.6 billion to €1.6 billion over the same period.
By contrast, the energy sector recorded a notable improvement: its trade deficit narrowed from €26.2 billion to €19.2 billion.