The EU’s surplus in trade in goods with non-EU countries fell to €12.7 billion in the first three months of 2026, down from €23.6 billion in the previous quarter.
The bloc still exported more goods than it imported overall, maintaining a positive balance that began in the third quarter of 2023 after deficits linked to higher energy costs from late 2021 to mid-2023, Eurostat reported on Tuesday.
The smaller surplus compared with late 2025 was mainly driven by a reduced surplus in machinery and vehicles, which fell to €27.8 billion from €39.8 billion in the previous quarter.
The deficit on energy products also widened to -€72.2 billion from -€64.0 billion.
Exports dip again as imports rise
The fall in the overall balance was partly offset by a narrower deficit in other manufactured goods, which improved to -€5.0 billion from -€10.9 billion, according to Eurostat.
The surplus for other goods increased to €11.5 billion from €7.2 billion.
Exports slipped by 0.1% in the first quarter, the fourth straight quarterly decline, while imports rose by 1.7% after three consecutive quarterly falls.
