The EU chemical sector's first-quarter trade surplus widened by 13.8% year-on-year to Eur27.3 billion ($34.4 billion), initial data by statistical agency Eurostat showed Friday.
The value of chemical goods exports from the 27-country bloc grew by 8% to about Eur67.4 billion, while imports rose 4% to Eur40 billion, according to provisional data.
The total EU manufacturing trade surplus was Eur76.7 billion, up 55.3% from a year earlier, most of which stemmed from a surplus of Eur55.9 billion in the machinery and vehicles segment which grew 30.3% year-on-year.
In the eurozone chemical sector's trade surplus, which includes trade with EU partners that are not part of the common currency, widened 13.2% year-on-year to Eur30 billion, accounting for about 32% of the manufacturing sector balance of Eur94.3 billion.
Eurostat's initial April estimate points to an overall trade deficit of Eur12.0 billion for the EU and a surplus of Eur5.2 billion for the eurozone.
