The eurozone’s trade surplus widened in September as exports surged. The European Union’s statistics agency on Friday said the eurozone economy grew at an annualized pace of 0.6% in the third quarter, a slight acceleration from the second, with France and Germany returning to growth.
Figures released by Eurostat on Monday suggest that exports may have helped boost activity toward the end of the quarter, with the eurozone recording a surplus in its trade in goods with the rest of the world of EUR18.5 billion ($ 23.17 billion), up from EUR10.8 billion in the same month of 2013.
Seasonally adjusted figures recorded a 4.2% jump in exports during September, which outpaced a 3.0% increase in imports. Exports have been volatile recently, but that sharp rise may reflect a belated boost from a weakening currency, which makes goods manufactured in the eurozone less expensive on world markets.