Brussels: The euro area posted a trade surplus of pound 176.9 billion ($185.3 billion) in 2024, more than triple the previous year's pound 57.4 billion, according to official data released Monday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the eurozone's exports of goods to the rest of the world grew modestly by 0.6%, reaching pound 2.9 trillion last year, while its imports dropped by 3.7% to pound 2.7 trillion, data from Eurostat showed.

Trade within the euro area also saw decline, with intra-regional trade totaling pound 2.6 trillion in 2024, down 2.9% compared to the previous year. The EU's trade surplus soared to pound 150.1 billion in 2024, surging from pound 34.4 billion in 2023.

Extra-EU shipments of goods reached pound 2.6 trillion last year, marking a 1.1% rise compared to the prior year. Imports dropped by 3.5%, totaling pound 2.4 trillion.

In December 2024, the eurozone's trade surplus contracted to pound 15.5 billion, compared to pound 16.4 billion in the same month of the previous year. Goods exports climbed 3.1% to pound 226.5 billion, while purchases from the rest of the world rose 3.8% year-on-year to pound 211 billion.

The EU saw its trade surplus widen slightly to pound 16.3 billion in December from pound 16.1 billion a year earlier.