Euro area posts EUR 10.3 billion goods deficit as imports outpace exports

The euro area recorded a EUR 10.3 billion goods trade deficit in September, versus a EUR 13.5 billion surplus a year earlier, in Eurostat's November 13 estimate.

Exports rose 6% to EUR 272.7 billion; imports increased 16.1% to EUR 283 billion. The energy deficit widened from EUR 20.7 billion to EUR 33 billion, while the machinery and vehicles surplus fell from EUR 10 billion to EUR 3 billion.

The overall deficit narrowed from August. These figures are not seasonally adjusted, and the monthly improvement differs from the deterioration against last year.