In the fourth quarter of 2010, the EU27 external balance of trade in goods was in deficit by €26.3bn, compared with a deficit of €8.4bn in the fourth quarter of 2009 and a deficit of €28.4bn in the third quarter of 2010. In the fourth quarter of 2010, the external balance of trade in services was in surplus by €15bn, compared with a surplus of €18.9bn in the fourth quarter of 2009 and a surplus of €21.1bn in the third quarter of 2010.

These provisional data, issued by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, will be subject to revision.