EU international trade in services increased in 2013, with EU exports of services to the rest of the world rising by 5%, from €676 billion in 2012 to €710 bn in 2013, and EU imports by 3%, from €515 bn to €532 bn. As a result, the EU surplus in trade in services increased in 2013 to €178 bn, compared with +€161 bn in 2012.

These data, issued by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, are compiled for the first time according to the new methodology of balance of payments statistics.

Highest surplus for financial services

The main components of EU international trade in services were “other business services” (R&D, business, professional & technical services) which accounted in 2013 for 25% of EU total exports and 29% of imports, Transport services (20% and 23%), Travel services (15% and 17%), Telecommunications, computer and information services (11% and 9%) and Financial services (10% and 6%). In 2013, the services that contributed the most to the EU surplus were financial services (+€43.5 bn), ICT services (+€33.8 bn) and other business services (+€26.0 bn), while the only significant deficit was recorded for charges for the use of intellectual property (-€8.5 bn).

USA and EFTA countries, main trading partners

In 2013, the USA (25% of EU total exports and 30% of EU imports) and the four EFTA countries together (18% of EU exports and 13% of EU imports) continued to be the two main partners of the EU in international trade in services. The EU recorded surpluses with all its main partners in 2013, except India (-€1 bn). The largest surplus was observed in trade with the EFTA countries (+€57 bn), ahead of the USA (+€21 bn), Russia (+€16 bn) and Japan (+€10 bn).