Mapping the marketplace: Insights into EU trade
Publication Date/Time
2024-02-16T08:00:00+00:00
Country
Europe
A deep dive into data shaping the trade landscape across the European
Union
The European Union implemented a new trade policy
[https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/news/open-sustainable-and-assertive-trade-policy]
in 2022, aiming to transform its economy. This policy represents a
shift towards an economy that is robust and responsive, focusing on
three main goals: supporting the EU’s economic recovery, aligning
with green and digital initiatives, and reshaping global trade for
fairness and sustainability.

Data is crucial for comprehending the complexities of trade within EU
Member States. It provides a detailed, quantifiable representation of
trade flows, revealing patterns, trends, and interdependencies between
different economies within the EU.

The importance of trade data is also recognised by its inclusion in
the high-value datasets, a list of datasets with a particular
potential to generate socioeconomic benefits
[https://data.europa.eu/en/publications/datastories/high-value-datasets-overview-through-visualisation].
The ‘statistics’ category of the high-value datasets includes a
dataset called ‘EU international trade in goods statistics –
exports and imports breakdowns simultaneously by partner, product and
flow’, as described by Regulation (EU) 2019/2152
[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?toc=OJ%3AL%3A2019%3A327%3ATOC&uri=uriserv%3AOJ.L_.2019.327.01.0001.01.ENG].

This granularity is essential for analysing the volume, value and
nature of goods and services exchanged, enabling policymakers,
economists and businesses to discern the strengths and vulnerabilities
of intra-EU trade networks. For instance, data can highlight which
products or services are most traded, identify key trading partners
within the bloc, and expose the impact of regulatory policies or
economic events on trade volumes. It also helps in understanding the
integration level of the single market and how changes in one Member
State can ripple through the entire EU economy.

 

USING EUROSTAT DATA TO ANALYSE EU TRADE

Some of the most comprehensive data sources for analysing EU-wide
trends are provided by Eurostat. The data shows which goods Member
States import from and export to one another
[https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ext_lt_intratrd/default/table?lang=en],
and how that has changed over time.

When it comes to exports, the data indicates that countries like
Germany, Italy and the Netherlands are among the largest exporters in
the EU. Germany’s export profile is substantial, with a notable
balance between intra-EU and extra-EU trade. As for imports, Germany
again stands out as a major player, with a significant volume of
imports coming from both within and outside the EU. This reflects
Germany’s robust industrial base, which requires a wide range of
inputs from both EU and non-EU countries.

Italy, known for its variety of export goods ranging from industrial
products to high-quality consumer goods, displays a balanced export
approach between the EU and extra-EU markets. Italy’s import
patterns also highlight a strong reliance on both Member States and
non-EU countries, indicative of a diversified supply chain that
supports its varied industrial and consumer markets.

The Netherlands, with its strategic geographic position and
significant port infrastructure, shows a strong export presence
serving as a key gateway for trade both within and outside the EU.
Given its role as a major logistics and distribution hub, the
Netherlands imports substantial quantities from both EU and extra-EU
sources, further emphasising its role in European trade.

Analysing the EU trade data reveals distinct patterns of trade
dependency. For instance, countries like Croatia and Cyprus are
heavily reliant on the EU market for both imports and exports,
indicating a strong orientation towards intra-EU trade. This is likely
due to geographical proximity and tighter economic integration with
other EU Member States. On the other end of the spectrum, a country
such as Ireland shows a significant leaning towards extra-EU markets,
reflecting its broader global trade focus and possibly historical
trade connections beyond the European Union.

The following visualisation shows how much Member States traded –
both for export and import – with other Member States, and with
countries outside of the EU.
 
A more detailed analysis of data can also reveal the share of exports
and imports for each country, and the types of goods that were traded
in 2022. Expressed as a share of the total EU export, Germany leads
the pack with a dominant presence in machinery and transport
equipment, reflecting its global reputation in advanced manufacturing
and automotive industries. The Netherlands follows, with a significant
presence in mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials,
showcasing its role in energy trade and logistics. France and Italy
have a significant share of the food, drinks and tobacco total export.

The following visualisation highlights the exports of Member States as
a share of all EU exports, and the types of goods traded.
 
In the EU import landscape, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and
Italy are key players. Germany leads with substantial imports,
accounting for about a quarter of all machinery and raw materials, and
a fifth of food, drinks and chemicals. The Netherlands, known for its
logistical prowess, imports around 10 % of the EU’s total food,
drinks and tobacco, along with similar shares in raw materials and
mineral fuels. France and Italy also hold significant positions, with
France importing a notable amount of mineral fuels, reflective of its
diverse industrial needs. Italy, with its rich manufacturing heritage,
particularly in fashion and the automotive industry, shows a strong
demand for raw materials, chemicals and machinery, underlining the
interdependence and varied needs of these major EU economies.

This visualisation displays the import proportions of Member States
within the total EU imports, along with the categories of goods
traded.
 
 

USING DATA.EUROPA.EU FOR RESEARCH ABOUT TRADE

Data.europa.eu offers a comprehensive repository of datasets that are
useful for research on various aspects of trade by Member States. The
portal aggregates a wealth of information, from broad economic
indicators to granular trade statistics, with data ranging from trade
volumes to market dynamics, and economic impact assessments, among
other facets.

Other than just goods, data can also be used to analyse the trade of
services. One dataset that stands out for its detailed insights into
trade activities is from the Irish Central Statistics Office,
highlighting the value of service imports and exports from 2016 to
2020
[https://data.europa.eu/data/datasets/d0919a7f-3bf7-4f26-844b-42b1f2629a65?locale=en].
This dataset provides a breakdown offering a sector-specific view of
the services trade. Moreover, it delineates the data by enterprise
size, thereby allowing for a nuanced analysis of how different-sized
businesses contribute to and are affected by trade flows. Such a
detailed dataset is instrumental for understanding the nuances of
Ireland’s services sector, its competitive landscape and the
economic interplay between various industry segments.

As the following visualisation highlights, the largest imports are in
the information and communication sector, as well as in manufacturing.
On the other hand, the export of services looks more balanced, again
with a significant presence of information and communication exports
and all other sectors with a somewhat similar value.
 
While the previous visualisation offers valuable insights into the
trade of services in Ireland, it represents just a segment of the
comprehensive data available. There are other facets of this dataset
that warrant exploration, such as the size of the enterprise involved
in the exchange.

Another important dataset on data.europa.eu concerns EU citizens’
opinions about trade
[http://data.europa.eu/88u/dataset/s905_74_1_ebs357?locale=en].
Datasets derived from the Eurobarometer surveys on various topics are
made available on data.europa.eu, offering a repository of information
for scholarly and policy analysis.

The information presented in this section is primarily sourced from
_Special Eurobarometer 357: International trade, _a survey conducted
by interviewing a representative sample of EU citizens to ensure that
the sample accurately reflects the demographic composition of the EU
population, thus providing reliable insights.

This Eurobarometer survey aims to assess the direct and indirect
impacts of international trade on EU consumers. This encompasses
examining changes in consumption patterns, employment shifts and
overall economic welfare. Furthermore, it evaluates the perceived role
and effectiveness of the EU within the ambit of global trade,
providing an evidence-based measure of public trust and approval.

As shown in the next visualisation, the opinions of EU citizens about
trade are about evenly split. An equal number of citizens say they are
and are not currently benefiting from international trade. Among the
respondents with favourable views, the most cited reasons are the
availability of cheaper products and a wider choice for consumers. The
other group of respondents remarks that there is room for improvement
in terms of the quality of products, the prices for certain goods and
employment.
 
 

EXPLORING ADDITIONAL DATA SOURCES

Several other websites provide comprehensive resources for information
related to trade.

	* Using search keywords like ‘trade’, ‘imports’ or
‘exports’
[https://data.europa.eu/data/datasets?query=trade%20OR%20import%20OR%20export],
the data.europa.eu portal offers a very high number of relevant
datasets.
	*
The Access2Markets portal
[https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/home] provides
essential data for conducting trade with non-EU nations, covering
aspects like tariffs, taxation, processes, regulations, rules of
origin, export guidelines, trade statistics, barriers to trade and
numerous other relevant details.

 

METHODOLOGICAL NOTES

In visualisations 2 and 3 of this story, only the top ten exporters
and importers were considered.

 

_Article by Davide Mancino_

_Data visualisations by Federica Fragapane_
