EU Records USD31.2B Trade Surplus in Fourth Quarter of 2025

(MENAFN) The European Union closed out the fourth quarter of 2025 with a goods trade surplus of €28.4 billion ($31.2 billion), as exports continued to outpace imports and the bloc extended a run of positive trade balances that has held firm since the third quarter of 2023, official data showed Wednesday.

The stretch of surpluses represents a meaningful turnaround from an earlier period of deficits that had been driven largely by soaring energy costs, according to Eurostat, the EU's statistical authority.

Chemicals and related products emerged as the single largest engine of the surplus, contributing €49.3 billion to the overall figure. Machinery and vehicles delivered another substantial boost, adding €42.3 billion. Smaller but notable contributions came from food, drinks, and tobacco at €10.8 billion, with other miscellaneous goods accounting for a further €7.1 billion.

The headline surplus, however, masked significant pressure points beneath the surface. Energy remained a glaring weak spot, recording a deficit of €62.7 billion during the quarter — a stark reminder of the bloc's continued dependence on external energy sources. Other manufactured goods posted a shortfall of €11 billion, while raw materials registered a deficit of €7.5 billion.

Trade volumes told a sobering story of their own. Both imports and exports have contracted for three consecutive quarters, with imports declining 1.4% and exports slipping 0.8% against the prior quarter — underscoring the fragile and uneven nature of the EU's external trade recovery even as its overall balance sheet remains in positive territory.

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