The trade deficit in the eurozone widened again at the end of last year. After a decline in November, the seasonally adjusted deficit in December increased by 3.7 billion to 18.1 billion euros, as reported by the Eurostat statistics office in Luxembourg on Wednesday. Analysts had expected a deficit of 16.0 billion euros. While exports fell 4.6 percent, imports fell 2.9 percent.
In 2022 as a whole, the economic consequences of the Russian war against Ukraine made themselves felt. The trade balance showed an unadjusted deficit of 314.7 billion euros, compared to a surplus of 116.4 billion euros a year earlier. Although exports increased significantly by 18.0 percent, imports increased more than twice as much at 37.5 percent. The main reason for this may have been the considerable increase in the price of energy imports. (dpa)