Between January and June 2015, euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world rose to $1.13 trillion, an increase of six percent compared with the same period in 2014, according to figures released by EUROSTAT, the European Union’s statistics bureau,

Imports rose to $1.0 trillion, an increase of three percent compared with the first six months of last year, resulting in a trade surplus during the first half of $130 billion compared with $85.9 billion in January to June 2014.

In the 28-member European Union, exports rose to $997.7 billion during the first half of the year, an increase of seven percent. Imports rose to $971.5 billion, a four-percent increase, resulting in a $26.2 billion, compared with a 4.3-percent deficit in January to June 2014. Intra-EU trade rose four percent.

The euro area refers to the 19 European Union countries in that use the euro currency. The EU has 28 member states.

Intra-euro area trade rose to $955.9 billion in January to June 2015, up by three percent year over year.

The first estimates for euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world in June 2015 was $205.3 billion, an increase of 12 percent compared with June 2014. The euro area recorded a $29.7 billion trade surplus in June 2015, compared with $18.0 in June 2014. Intra-euro area trade was up 10 percent in June.

June EU trade showed a 13-percent increase in exports and a seven-percent increase in imports for a $11.7 billion surplus for the month, compared with $2.3 billion surplus in June 2014. Intra-EU trade grew by 10 percent in June.