EU-Rusland Top: extern handelstekort met Rusland van bijna 70 miljard euro in 2006 (en)

STAT/07/65

15 May 2007

EU - Russia Summit

A EU27 external trade deficit of almost 70 bn euro with Russia in 2006

Russia third largest trading partner of EU27

Between 2000 and 2006, EU27 exports of goods to Russia more than tripled in value, from 22.7 billion euro to 72.4 bn, while EU27 imports from Russia more than doubled, from 63.8 bn to 140.6 bn. As a result the EU27 deficit in trade with Russia increased from 41.0 bn in 2000 to 68.2 bn in 2006. This increased deficit was primarily due to an increase in the deficit for energy, only partially offset by an increase in the surplus for machinery and vehicles 1.

The share of Russia in the EU27 's total external trade in goods has nearly doubled between 2000 and 2006. In 2006, Russia accounted for just over 6% of EU27 exports and 10% of EU27 imports, and was the EU27 's third most important trading partner, after the USA and China.

On the occasion of the European Union - Russia summit, which will take place on Friday 18 May 2007 in Samara in Russia, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, issues data on trade in goods and services, as well as investments between Russia and the EU.

Germany, Italy and Finland largest EU exporters to Russia

Almost half of EU27 exports to Russia in 2006 were machinery and vehicles, while energy accounted for two thirds of imports. At the detailed level, the main EU27 exports to Russia were medicine, motor cars, radio & telephone transmission equipment and computers & parts, while the main imports were oil, gas, coal, nickel, aluminium and copper.

Among the EU27 Member States, Germany was by far the largest exporter to Russia in 2006, with 23.1 bn euro, or 32% of the total, followed by Italy (7.6 bn or 11%) and Finland (6.2 bn or 9%). Germany (29.0 bn or 21%) was also the largest importer, followed by the Netherlands 2 (17.0 bn or 12%) and Italy (13.6 bn or 10%).

Most Member States recorded trade deficits with Russia in 2006. The largest were observed in the Netherlands 2

(-11.4 bn), Italy (-6.0 bn), Germany and Poland (both -5.9 bn) and Spain (-5.7 bn).

EU27 trade in goods with Russia

million euro

EU27 and Member States trade with Russia

million euro

EU27 trade with Russia by product

million euro

EU25 surplus of 3.2 billion in trade in services with Russia

In 2006, the EU25 3 exported 13.1 bn euro of services to Russia, while imports of services from Russia amounted to 9.9 bn, meaning that the EU25 had a surplus of 3.2 bn in trade in services with Russia. This surplus was mainly due to other business services 4 (+1.8 bn euro), as well as travel (+1.0 bn) and financial services (+0.7 bn), while transportation recorded the largest deficit (-1.5 bn). Russia accounted for almost 3% of total extra- EU25 trade in services.

EU25 trade in services* with Russia

million euro

• * 

  2006 data are preliminary

Increase in EU25 FDI flows into Russia

EU25 3 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows into Russia increased from 2.5 bn euro in 2001 to 9.0 bn in 2005. Russian direct investment into the EU25 was generally low between 2001 and 2004, increasing to 4.1 bn in 2005.

EU25 FDI flows with Russia

(million euro)

• 1. 

  Machinery and vehicles includes power generating and industrial machinery, computers, electric and electronic parts and equipment, road vehicles and parts, ships, airplanes and railway equipment.

Other manufactured articles include leather, rubber, wood, paper, textiles, metals, building fixtures and fittings, furniture, clothes, shoes and accessories, scientific instruments, clocks, watches and cameras.

• 1. 

  Dutch imports, and therefore the trade deficit, are over-estimated because of the "Rotterdam effectâ€, where goods destined for the rest of the EU arrive and are recorded in harmonised EU external trade statistics in Dutch ports. This then has a positive effect on the external trade balances with Russia of those Member States to which the goods are re-exported, as these shipments would be recorded as intra-EU trade with the Netherlands, rather than extra-EU trade with Russia.
• 2. 

  EU27 figures are not yet available.
• 3. 

  Other business services comprise merchanting and other trade-related services, operational leasing services and miscellaneous business, professional and technical services.