Brussels: The eurozone posted a pound 19.4 billion ($22.5 billion) foreign trade surplus in September, Eurostat reported Friday, a sharp increase from an upwardly revised pound 1.9 billion ($2.2 billion) surplus in August.

According to Anadolu Agency, the rise was mainly driven by chemicals, with the sector's surplus jumping from pound 17.9 billion ($20.8 billion) in August to pound 29.1 billion ($33.1 billion) in September. Overall, eurozone exports climbed 7.7% year-on-year to pound 256.6 billion ($297.2 billion), while imports rose 5.3% to pound 237.1 billion ($274.5 billion).

The EU27, which includes all member states, recorded a pound 16.3 billion ($18.9 billion) surplus in September. The US remained the bloc's largest export destination, receiving pound 53.1 billion ($61.5 billion) worth of goods, up 15.4% from a year earlier. Exports to China fell 2.5% to pound 16.7 billion ($19.3 billion), while shipments to the UK increased 2.8% to pound 29.3 billion ($33.9 billion).

China led as the largest EU importer in September with pound 49.8 billion ($57.6 billion), up 3.6% year-on-year, followed by the US at pound 30.9 billion ($35.7 billion), a 12.5% increase.

The eurozone, or EA20, comprises countries using the euro, while the EU27 includes all European Union members.