Since 2000, global merchandise exports have shown a consistent upward trend, with only a few exceptions. The most recent decline occurred in 2020, attributed to the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, exports have rebounded strongly since then, as illustrated in the following figure:
The share of euro area imports of goods from EU countries outside the euro area increased by 3.9 percentage points (pp) between 2014 and 2024. In the same period China’s share increased by 3.1 pp while the share of the United Kingdom decreased by 3.7 pp.
The share of euro area exports of goods to EU countries outside the euro area increased by 3.5 pp between 2014 and 2024. In the same period the share of the United States increased by 4.3 pp, while the share of the United Kingdom decreased by 3.0 pp.
Trade within the European Union spans various sectors and product categories. The majority of EU exports are concentrated in machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, and chemicals and related products.
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The United States remained the largest destination for goods exported from the EU in 2024 (see Figure 7) with a share of 20.6%. The United Kingdom came second (13.2% of the EU total), followed by China (8.3%). China was the largest supplier of goods into the EU in 2024 with a share of 20.1%. The United States (12.9%) followed at some distance.
Between 2023 and 2024, among the main trading partners, the highest annual growth rate was recorded for exports to the United States (5.6%) and Japan (4.5%) while exports to China (-4.6%) and South Korea (-2.7%) dropped most (see Figure 7).
On the import side, between 2023 and 2024, imports of goods dropped most from Norway (-13.0%) and Japan (-10.7%). The largest increases for imports were recorded for India (+9.0%) and Brazil (+3.2%).
Confederation of International Trading Houses Associations (CITHA)
Headquarters:
Avenue des Nerviens 85, 3rd floor, B-1040
Brussels/Belgium
Please contact CITHA in Germany via
Confederation of International Trading
Houses Associations (CITHA)
c/o BDEx
Am Weidendamm 1A
10117 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 72 62 57 93
Fax: +49 30 72 62 57 94
E-Mail: info@citha.eu
