BRUSSELS: Countries in the eurozone posted a €15.4bn ($20.9bn) trade surplus in May, official data showed yesterday, with export powerhouse Germany again leading the way.
Exports in May across the 18-nation single currency zone rose by 0.6 percent in May compared with April while imports were up 0.5 percent, the Eurostat statistics agency said.
The data provided “slightly brighter news after a series of disappointing hard data releases for the month,” said Christian Schulz of Berenberg Bank. “However, trade activity has been largely flat-lining so far this year as emerging market weakness weighed on exports and a relatively mild winter lowered energy imports.”
The full 28-nation EU showed a small surplus of 600 million euros in May, down from €1bn in April and sharply lower than the €15bn in May 2013. AFP
