Europese export naar landen Oostelijk Partnerschap blijft groeien (en)

Between 2000 and 2010, EU27 trade in goods with the 6 Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) grew significantly, despite a distinct decline in 2009. From 2000 to 2008, exports increased from 8.8 billion euro to a peak of 37.1 bn. After falling to 23.2 bn in 2009, they partially recovered in 2010 to reach 29.5 bn. Imports followed the same pattern as exports. They grew from 7.8 bn in 2000 to 31.6 bn in 2008, then dropped to 19.0 bn in 2009, before increasing to 25.2 bn in 2010. As a result, the trade surplus of the EU27 with the Eastern Partnership grew from 1.0 bn in 2000 to 4.4 bn in 2010.

Compared with the first half of 2010, EU27 trade with the Eastern Partnership continued to grow in the first half of 2011. Exports rose from 12.8 bn in the first six months of 2010 to 16.5 bn in the first half of 2011, and imports from 11.7 bn to 17.7 bn. The EU27 balance in trade of goods with the Eastern Partnership turned from a surplus of 1.2 bn in the first half of 2010 to a first-time deficit of 1.3 bn in the same period of 2011.

The share of the Eastern Partnership in the EU27's total external trade has more than doubled over ten years: while exports made up 1.0% in 2000, their share rose to 2.2% in the first half of 2011 and imports were up from 0.8% to 2.1%.

On the occasion of the Eastern Partnership summit, which takes place on 29 and 30 September 2011 in Poland, Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, issues data on trade in goods between the 27 Member States of the EU and the 6 Eastern Partnership countries.

Germany, Italy and Poland accounted for half of the trade with the Eastern Partnership…

Among the EU27 Member States, Germany, Italy and Poland were the most important trading partners of the Eastern Partnership in the first half of 2011. Germany (4.3 bn euro or 26% of total exports) was the largest exporter, followed by Poland (2.3 bn or 14%) and Italy (1.3 bn or 8%). Italy (6.3 bn or 35% of total imports) was the largest importer, followed by Germany (1.9 bn or 11%), France (1.8 bn or 10%) and Poland (1.4 bn or 8%). The largest surplus in the first half of 2011 was registered by Germany (+2.4 bn) and the largest deficits by Italy (-5.0 bn) and France (-1.1 bn).

Nearly 40% of EU27 exports to the Eastern Partnership in the first half of 2011 were machinery and vehicles2, while other manufactured goods2 accounted for around a quarter. Energy accounted for half of imports and other manufactured goods for almost a quarter.

…and Ukraine accounted for half of Eastern Partnership trade with the EU

Among the Eastern Partnership countries, Ukraine (9.6 bn euro or 58% of total exports) was the leading destination for EU27 exports in the first half of 2011, followed by Belarus (4.0 bn or 24%). The leading source of EU27 imports from the Eastern Partnership was also Ukraine (7.8 bn or 44% of total imports), followed by Azerbaijan (7.2 bn or 40%). The largest EU27 surpluses in trade with the Eastern Partnership in the first half of 2011 were recorded with Belarus (+2.1 bn) and Ukraine (+1.8 bn), and the highest deficit with Azerbaijan (-6.0 bn).

EU27 trade in goods with the Eastern Partnership

million euro

EU27 Member States' trade in goods with the Eastern Partnership

million euro

0 = less than 0.5 mio

EU27 trade in goods with the Eastern Partnership by product

million euro

EU27 trade in goods with the Eastern Partnership countries

million euro

• - 

  The 6 Eastern Partnership countries are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. For the moment, Belarus only partially participates in the Eastern Partnership initiatives. More information on the Eastern Partnership can be found at: http://eeas.europa.eu/eastern/index_en.htm

• - 

  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.

• - 

  Dutch imports, and therefore the trade deficit, are over-estimated because of the “Rotterdam effect”, 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 the Eastern Partnership 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 these countries. To a lesser extent, Belgian trade figures are similarly over-estimated.

Eurostat News Releases on the internet: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat