EU27 trade in goods with Russia partly recovered in 2010, after the sharp drop recorded in 2009 which interrupted a long period of growth. EU27 exports to Russia fell from 105 billion euro in 2008 to 66 bn in 2009, then rose to 86 bn in 2010. Imports decreased from 178 bn in 2008 to 118 bn in 2009, then increased to 160 bn in 2010. As a result, the EU27 trade deficit with Russia increased from 52 bn euro in 2009 to 74 bn in 2010.

The first nine months of 2011 showed continued growth in EU27 trade with Russia. Exports rose from 61 bn in the first nine months of 2010 to 79 bn in the same period of 2011, and imports from 117 bn to 146 bn. As a result, the EU27 trade deficit with Russia increased from 56 bn in the first nine months of 2010 to 67 bn in the same period of 2011. In the first nine months of 2011, Russia was the EU27's third most important trading partner after the USA and China, accounting for 7% of EU27 exports and 12% of EU27 imports.

On the occasion of the 28th European Union - Russia summit, which will take place on 15 December in Brussels, Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, issues the latest data1 on trade between class="A__T6">Russia and the EU.

Germany accounts for about a third of EU27 exports to Russia

Among the EU27 Member States, Germany (25.2 bn euro or 32% of EU exports) was by far the largest exporter to Russia in the first nine months of 2011, followed by Italy (6.9 bn or 9%), France (5.4 bn or 7%) and the Netherlands (5.1 bn or 6%). Germany (26.9 bn or 18% of EU imports) was also the largest importer, followed by the Netherlands2 (19.7 bn or 13%), Poland (13.1 bn or 9%), Italy (12.8 bn or 9%) and France (10.1 bn or 7%).

Most Member States recorded deficits in trade with Russia in the first nine months of 2011, the largest being observed in the Netherlands2 (-14.6 bn euro), Poland (-8.6 bn), Italy (-5.9 bn), France (-4.7 bn) and Finland
(-4.5 bn). Surpluses were modest and all below 0.5 bn.

Just over 85% of EU27 exports to Russia in the first nine months of 2011 were manufactured goods, while energy accounted for more than three quarters of imports.

EU27 Member States' trade in goods with Russia

million euro

EU27 trade in goods with Russia by product

million euro

EU27 trade in goods with Russia

million euro

• For data on trade in services and investments between the EU and Russia, please see News Release 82/2011 of 9 June 2011. A Statistics in Focus "EU-27 and Russia: basic statistical indicators and selected trade figures" will also be published shortly.

• Extra-EU imports of some Member States (e.g. the Netherlands), and therefore their trade deficit, are over-estimated because of the “Rotterdam effect”, where goods destined for the rest of the EU arrive and are recorded in harmonised EU external trade statistics in the Member State where they are released for free circulation. This then has a positive effect on the external trade balances with Russia of those Member States to which the goods are re-exported, as these shipments would be recorded as intra-EU trade with the first Member State rather than extra-EU trade with Russia.

• Machinery and vehicles includes power generating and industrial machinery, computers, electric and electronic parts and equipment, road vehicles and parts, ships, airplanes and railway equipment.

Other manufactured goods include leather, rubber, wood, paper, textiles, metals, building fixtures and fittings, furniture, clothes, shoes and accessories, scientific instruments, clocks, watches and cameras.