By Tuba Sahin
ANKARA (AA) - The Euro area's goods trade deficit hit €26.3 billion ($26.4 billion) in May, the EU’s statistical office reported on Friday.
The trade balance posted a deficit for the sixth month in row due to a surge in imported energy bills, Eurostat data showed.
The figure deteriorated from a surplus of €12 billion in the same month of last year.
Exports of goods to the rest of the world rose 28.9% to €248.5 billion this May, while imports from the rest of the world jumped 52% to €274.8 billion in the same period.
Intra-euro area trade rose to €231.6 billion in the month, up 33% from a year ago.
The EU’s foreign trade balance had a €35 billion ($35.1 billion) deficit in May 2022 compared to a surplus of €8 billion in May 2021.
The first estimate for extra-EU exports of goods in May was €221.2 billion, up 28.3% year-on-year, while imports from the rest of the world stood at €256.2 billion, surging 55.7%.