Eurozone Trade Surplus Jumps to €16.2 Billion as Exports Strengthen

The euro area recorded a merchandise trade surplus of €16.2 billion in May, comfortably above the €14 billion economists had expected and exceeding April’s revised €15.1 billion. The seasonally adjusted figures, published on Wednesday, signal resilient external demand despite slowing global growth. The stronger regional balance coincided with a rebound in manufacturing output. Eurozone industrial production rose 1.7 percent in June from the previous month, its first increase in three months and a sharp turnaround from April’s 2.4 percent decline. Italy, the currency bloc’s third-largest economy, was a notable contributor. Rome posted an overall trade surplus of €6.163 billion in May, more than doubling April’s figure, while its surplus with EU partners widened to €0.776 billion. The improvement in Italian exports helped lift the wider euro-area figures.