Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communitie: Trade doubled between 1999 and 2003
China now second trade partner of EU25
Published:
One of the most significant features of economic relations between the EU and China over recent years has been the rapid growth of trade. Between 1999 and 2003, EU25 trade with China more than doubled, with exports rising from 19.6 billion euro to 41.2 billion, and imports growing from 52.4 billion to 105.3 billion.
By Philippe Bautier, Eurostat
The EU25 deficit in trade with China rose from 32.8 billion in 1999 to 64.2 billion in 2003. In contrast, over the period 1999-2003, total extra-EU25 trade grew by just over a quarter.
This rapid growth in trade has been observed, in fact, since the beginning of the 1980s. In 1980, China was the 25 t h largest destination for EU15 exports, and the 22 n d largest source for EU15 imports. By 1990, China ranked 14 t h for EU15 exports and sixth for EU15 imports. In 1999, China was the sixth largest destination for EU25 exports, and the fourth largest source for EU25 imports; by 2003 China had moved into third place for EU25 exports, behind the USA and Switzerland, and was in second place for EU25 imports, behind only the USA.
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More goods from China to Norway By November, Norway has imported traditional goods from China in the amount of NOK 14.8 billion, an increase of 30.1 per cent compared with the same period last year. China is now Norway's fifth largest supplier of goods, only surpassed by Sweden, Germany, Denmark and the United Kingdom. |
| EU25 and member states trade with China. Euro million |
| Exports | Imports | Balance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 2003 | 1999 | 2003 | 1999 | 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EU25 | 19 617,9 | 41 157,3 | 52 405,0 | 105 336,5 | -32 787,1 | -64 179,2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Belgium | 887,9 | 2 273,9 | 2 952,3 | 5 490,1 | -2 064,4 | -3 216,2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Czech Republic | 55,0 | 213,1 | 528,5 | 2 368,6 | -473,5 | -2 155,5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Denmark | 291,1 | 635,2 | 1 122,8 | 1 816,0 | -831,7 | -1 180,7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Germany | 6 948,7 | 18 263,9 | 12 799,3 | 22 476,5 | -5 850,6 | -4 212,5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Estonia | 38 048,0 | 38 256,0 | 41,6 | 257,3 | -39,3 | -230,4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Greece | 38 064,0 | 53,9 | 523,5 | 1 222,8 | -505,1 | -1 169,0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spain | 433,1 | 1 095,9 | 3 160,4 | 5 659,3 | -2 727,3 | -4 563,4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| France | 3 217,0 | 4 683,8 | 5 918,9 | 9 585,1 | -2 701,9 | -4 901,4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ireland | 121,6 | 583,2 | 481,1 | 1 100,6 | -359,5 | -517,4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Italy | 1 834,3 | 3 852,6 | 5 001,4 | 9 547,0 | -3 167,1 | -5 694,4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cyprus | 0,2 | 0,8 | 86,8 | 199,0 | -86,6 | -198,2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Latvia | 0,1 | 38 152,0 | 38 000,0 | 59,5 | -14,0 | -44,9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lithuania | 0,7 | 38 024,0 | 59,1 | 268,8 | -58,4 | -261,6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Luxembourg | 38,9 | 127,0 | 55,3 | 1 548,9 | -16,4 | -1 421,9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hungary | 67,3 | 157,5 | 573,1 | 2 914,1 | -505,8 | -2 756,6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Malta | 0,4 | 38 025,0 | 41,9 | 86,5 | -41,5 | -78,3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Netherlands 3 | 767,1 | 1 675,5 | 4 650,7 | 14 739,3 | -3 883,7 | -13 063,8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Austria | 472,8 | 903,5 | 618,2 | 1 571,3 | -145,5 | -667,8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Poland | 123,4 | 225,7 | 1 142,0 | 2 560,2 | -1 018,6 | -2 334,5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portugal | 38 137,0 | 149,8 | 280,5 | 371,4 | -250,0 | -221,6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Slovenia | 37 998,0 | 38 133,0 | 127,2 | 291,0 | -115,1 | -264,6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Slovakia | 38 112,0 | 123,6 | 135,9 | 491,6 | -130,4 | -368,0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finland | 986,3 | 1 301,3 | 545,0 | 1 136,1 | 441,3 | 165,3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sweden | 1 466,0 | 1 968,0 | 1 375,9 | 2 295,1 | 90,1 | -327,1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United Kingdom | 1 837,5 | 2 785,8 | 10 169,7 | 17 280,3 | -8 332,1 | -14 494,5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Extra-EU25 | 689 433,7 | 882 981,8 | 746 612,5 | 940 590,7 | -57 178,8 | -57 608,9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| China / Total. Per cent | 3 | 5 | 7 | 11 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trade dominated by manufactured goods
EU25 trade with China is very concentrated in manufactured goods. Nearly two thirds of EU25 exports to China are “Machinery and vehicles 1 ”, and a further 20per cent are “Other manufactured articles 2 ”, while each of these groups of products accounts for just under half of EU25 imports from China. At the detailed level, the main EU25 exports to China were motorcars and aircraft, while the main imports were computers and parts (including monitors and printers), mobile phones and digital cameras.
In 2003, EU25 exports of machinery and vehicles to China amounted to 26.4 billion euro, and imports to 47.9 bn. The trade deficit was 21.6 bn. EU25 exports of other manufactured articles to China were 7.9 bn, and imports 49.5 bn, with a trade deficit of 41.6 bn.
Germany largest trading partner of China amongst Member States
Among the EU25 Member States, Germany was by far the largest exporter to China in 2003, with 18.3 billion euro, or 44per cent of the total, followed by France (4.7 bn or 11per cent) and Italy (3.9 bn or 9per cent). Imports from China were, however, less concentrated. Germany (22.5 bn or 21per cent) was the largest importer, followed by the United Kingdom (17.3 bn or 16per cent), the Netherlands 3 (14.7 bn or 14per cent), France (9.6 bn or 9per cent) and Italy (9.5 bn or 9per cent).
All Member States recorded a deficit in trade with China in 2003, except Finland, which had a small surplus (+0.2 billion
euro). The largest deficits were registered by the United Kingdom (-14.5 bn), the Netherlands
3
(-13.1 bn), Italy (-5.7 bn) and France (-4.9 bn).
| EU25 trade with China, by product. Euro million |
| Exports | Imports | Balance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 2003 | 1999 | 2003 | 1999 | 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 19 617,9 | 41 157,3 | 52 405,0 | 105 336,5 | -32 787,1 | -64 179,2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primary products | 1 633,8 | 2 262,4 | 2 713,7 | 3 811,3 | -1 079,9 | -1 548,9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Food & drink | 361,2 | 529,7 | 1 174,3 | 1 641,0 | -813,1 | -1 111,3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crude materials | 1 056,7 | 1 610,1 | 1 233,5 | 1 489,9 | -176,8 | 120,3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Energy | 215,9 | 122,5 | 305,9 | 680,4 | -90,0 | -557,8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufactured goods | 17 590,0 | 38 034,7 | 49 376,9 | 101 210,7 | -31 786,9 | -63 176,0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chemicals | 1 679,2 | 3 733,2 | 2 192,5 | 3 770,2 | -513,3 | -36,9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Machinery & vehicles | 12 806,2 | 26 368,3 | 17 024,1 | 47 937,1 | -4 217,9 | -21 568,8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other manuf'd articles | 3 104,7 | 7 933,1 | 30 160,3 | 49 503,5 | -27 055,6 | -41 570,3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 394,1 | 860,2 | 314,3 | 314,5 | 79,7 | 545,7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 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.
2 Other manufactured articles include leather, rubber, wood, paper, textiles, metals, building fixtures and fittings, furniture, clothes, shoes and accessories, scientific instruments, clocks, watches and cameras.
3 Dutch imports, and therefore the 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 Dutch ports. This then has a positive effect on the external trade balances with China of those Member States to which the goods are re-exported, as these shipments would be recorded as intra-EU trade with the Netherlands, rather than extra-EU trade with China.
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