The Eurozone's trade surplus soared to a record €36.8 billion in March 2025, significantly higher than the €22.8 billion recorded in the same month a year earlier, as a surge in exports—particularly to the United States—drove the strong performance.
Eurozone trade surplus widens to record level
This sharp rise was largely attributed to buyers in the US accelerating orders ahead of anticipated tariffs on European goods, creating a temporary but powerful boost to transatlantic trade flows. Total Eurozone exports jumped by 13.6% year-on-year to an unprecedented €279.8 billion, while imports also increased, though at a slower pace of 8.8%, reaching €243 billion.
The broader European Union also saw its trade surplus widen markedly to €35.3 billion from €22.3 billion a year earlier, underpinned by robust external demand. EU exports surged by 15.2% to €254.8 billion, fueled by a stellar 55% increase in chemical shipments, alongside solid growth in machinery and vehicles (+6.5%) and food and drink (+5.6%). Exports to the US were particularly striking, skyrocketing 59.5% amid pre-tariff stockpiling. Additionally, shipments to Switzerland (+26.3%) and the UK (+4.8%) also posted healthy gains, reflecting broad-based demand strength.
Import figures
On the import side, the EU brought in €219.5 billion worth of goods, up 10.4% compared to March 2024. This growth was led by heightened purchases of food and drink (+25%), chemicals (+23.8%), and raw materials (+15.5%), underscoring both resilient consumer demand and industrial restocking activity across the bloc. From a regional perspective, imports from China rose by 15.8%, as European firms replenished inventories of electronics, textiles, and intermediate goods. Meanwhile, imports from the US increased by 9.4%, and from the UK by 5.4%, highlighting the continued importance of these key trade partners despite lingering post-Brexit friction and ongoing trade policy uncertainties.
The widening trade surplus offers a rare bright spot for the Eurozone economy, which continues to grapple with sluggish domestic demand and persistent inflationary pressures. However, analysts warn that the export boom may prove front-loaded, with the looming US tariffs expected to weigh on shipments in the months ahead, potentially tempering the recent momentum.
