The European Union’s trade surplus in goods nearly halved in the first quarter of this year, according to the latest figures published by Eurostat. The EU recorded a trade surplus of €12.7 billion in the first quarter of 2026, down from €23.6 billion in the final quarter of 2025.
The reduction was mainly driven by a weaker surplus in machinery and transport equipment, together with a widening deficit in energy products. The surplus in machinery and vehicles fell from €39.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025 to €27.8 billion in the first quarter of this year, while the energy deficit increased from €64 billion to €72.2 billion over the same period.
The decline was partially offset by better figures in other categories. The deficit in other manufactured goods narrowed from €10.9 billion to €5 billion, while the surplus in other goods increased from €7.2 billion to €11.5 billion.
Eurostat also reported that EU exports declined by 0.1% in the first quarter of 2026, marking the fourth consecutive quarterly drop. Imports, meanwhile, increased by 1.7%, ending three consecutive quarters of decline. Eurostat attributed part of the export weakness to ongoing tariff tensions.
The EU has maintained a positive trade balance since the third quarter of 2023, following a period of deficits caused by soaring energy costs from late 2021 to mid-2023.
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