Brussels: The eurozone posted an unexpected goods trade deficit of £7.8 billion ($8.94 billion) in May as surging energy imports outpaced weak export growth, Eurostat data showed Thursday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the result fell significantly short of market expectations for a £2.8 billion surplus and marked a stark contrast to the £15 billion surplus recorded in May 2025. Goods exports to the rest of the world edged up a mere 0.1% year over year to £243.6 billion, while imports rose 10% to £251.4 billion, contributing to the trade balance decline from a £1.2 billion deficit in April.

Eurostat attributed the deterioration mainly to a wider energy deficit and reduced trade surpluses in key sectors such as machinery, vehicles, chemicals, and related products. Over the first five months of the year, the eurozone registered a trade surplus of £3.3 billion, a sharp decrease from £78.7 billion during the same period in 2025. Exports fell 2.8% year over year to £1.21 trillion, while imports increased by 3.4% to £1.21 trillion. Meanwhile, trade among eurozone member states rose 3.3% to reach £1.16 trillion.

The broader European Union also reported a goods trade deficit of £12.1 billion in May, reversing a £12.7 billion surplus from the previous year. EU exports declined by 1.1% to £215.7 billion, whereas imports climbed 10.8% to £227.8 billion. Energy imports into the bloc surged 41.6% from a year earlier, reaching £47.7 billion, which expanded the EU's energy trade deficit to £34.5 billion from £24.8 billion.

Additionally, the EU's trade surplus with the United States narrowed to £7.9 billion from £18.4 billion, while its trade deficit with China widened to £30.8 billion from £28 billion.