Eurostat said that the first estimate for euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world in March 2021 was €212.1 billion, an increase of 8.9% compared with March 2020 (€194.7 bn), which had been affected by the COVID-19 containment measures widely introduced by the Member States. Imports from the rest of the world stood at €196.3 bn, a rise of 19.2% compared with March 2020 (€164.7 bn). As a result, the euro area recorded a €15.8 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in March 2021, compared with +€29.9 bn in March 2020. Intra-euro area trade rose to €199.0 bn in March 2021, up by 27.5% compared with March 2020.

In January to March 2021, euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world fell to €564.0 bn (a decrease of 0.6% compared with January-March 2020), and imports rose to €514.4 bn (an increase of 0.3% compared with JanuaryMarch 2020). As a result the euro area recorded a surplus of €49.5 bn, compared with +€54.6 bn in January March 2020. Intra-euro area trade rose to €514.2 bn in January-March 2021, up by 6.2% compared with January-March 2020.