Prime Highlights
- The eurozone ended 2025 with a €12.6 bn goods trade surplus in December, driven by steady export growth.
- Strong exports and improved energy conditions helped maintain the bloc’s sizeable external position throughout the year.
Key Facts
- December exports reached €234 bn, up 3.4% year-on-year, while imports rose 4.2% to €221.3 bn, resulting in a monthly trade surplus.
- For the full year 2025, the eurozone recorded a €164.6 bn trade surplus, with total exports of €2.94 tn and imports of €2.77 tn.
Background
The eurozone ended 2025 on a positive note, posting a €12.6bn surplus in goods trade with the rest of the world in December, as steady export growth highlighted the bloc’s external strength, according to figures from Eurostat.
Exports reached €234bn in December, up 3.4% from a year earlier, while imports rose 4.2% to €221.3bn. Although the monthly surplus fell slightly from December 2024, European exporters maintained strong global demand.
For the full year, the eurozone earned a solid €164.6 bn trade surplus, just below €168.9 bn in 2024. Annual exports rose 2.4% to €2.94 tn, while imports grew 2.7% to €2.77 tn, showing healthy trade and steady external demand. Trade within the euro area also expanded, with intra-bloc exchanges rising 2% to €2.63tn.
Seasonally adjusted data pointed to improving momentum at the end of the year. Exports increased 1.1% in December from November, outpacing the 0.6% rise in imports and lifting the adjusted surplus to €11.6bn.
Sector trends showed a shift in the composition of trade. Surpluses in chemicals, machinery, vehicles, and other manufactured goods fell, but the energy deficit shrank a lot, helping the overall balance.
The European Union maintained strong trade. In December, it had a €12.9 bn surplus, and for the whole of 2025, it had a €133.5 bn surplus, showing that EU businesses are still strong in the world market.
The data signal that the eurozone maintained a stable and sizeable external position through 2025, as strong exports and better energy conditions boosted confidence in the region’s trade.