EU runs foreign trade deficit of $10.3B this January-August

By Gokhan Ergocun

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AA) - The EU posted a foreign trade deficit of €9.8 billion (some $10.3 billion) in the first eight months of the year, Eurostat said on Monday.

The 27-member bloc's exports rose 2% to €1.69 trillion while imports dropped 13.6% to €1.7 trillion, the statistical authority said.

Meanwhile, the euro area saw a foreign trade surplus of €8.1 billion in the same period, as its exports totaled €1.883 trillion and imports €1.875 trillion.

In August alone, both the euro area and the EU posted surpluses, €6.7 billion and €1.4 billion, respectively.