In September 2024, in terms of nominal year-on-year changes, exports and imports of goods increased by 5.1% and 3.3%, respectively (-1.9% and +1.1%, in the same order, in August 2024). 

In September 2024, compared to the same period in the previous year, there were increases in exports and in imports of Transport equipment (+20.1% and +28.0%, respectively). In imports, the increase in Industrial supplies (+10.7%) and the decrease in Fuels and lubricants (-38.4%) were also noteworthy.

Excluding Fuels and lubricants, in September 2024, there were increases of 5.0% in exports and 9.7% in imports (-1.5% and +1.5%, respectively, in August 2024).

In September 2024, the unit value indices (prices) recorded negative changes, -0.5% in exports and -4.2% in imports (+0.2% and -3.9%, respectively, in August 2024; -4.7% and -6.9% in September 2023). Excluding petroleum products, there were decreases of 0.1% in exports and 3.0% in imports (+0.3% and -3.1%, respectively, in August 2024; -1.6% and -4.5% in September 2023).

The trade deficit amounted to EUR 2,371 million in September 2024, corresponding to a decrease of EUR 33 million year-on-year. Excluding Fuels and lubricants, the deficit increased by EUR 433 million, amounting to EUR 2,054 million.

In the 3rd quarter 2024, exports and imports increased by 9.7% and 7.0%, respectively, year-on-year (+6.0% and +3.6%, in the same order, in the quarter ended in August 2024), causing the trade deficit to rise by EUR 30 million, the first increase since the 1st quarter of 2023. These variations reflect the weight of transactions with a view to or following processing (without change of ownership), which accounted for 6.9% of total exports and 3.1% of imports in the 3rd quarter of 2024. Excluding these transactions, exports increased by 5.4% and imports by 4.8%, resulting in a EUR 234 million growth of the trade deficit.