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USA and Japan, main EU partners in car trade.
The car industry remains of prime importance for the EU: new and used motor cars accounted for close to 6% of the total value of all extra-EU exports in 2007, and well over 2% of the total value of all extra-EU imports.
Main statistical findings
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In 2007, the EU-27 exported motor cars worth EUR 71.1 billion. Imports in that same year amounted to roughly half that value (EUR 33.6 billion). The EU trade surplus amounted to EUR 37.5 billion.
The value of extra-EU exports of motor cars increased by an average 6% per year between 2000 and 2007. During the same period, extra-EU imports grew faster, at an average 8% per year.
Over one third (35%) of all extra-EU motor car imports in 2007 came from Japan, followed by South Korea (20%), the United States (19%) and Turkey (13%). Chinese imports, at a low level in absolute terms, have increased fastest in recent years.
In 2007, the USA remained by a large margin the main EU partner for motor car exports (35% of the total), ahead of Russia (9%) Switzerland and Japan (both 6%). Since 2000, EU motor car exports to Russia have developed particularly rapidly.
Within the broader ‘Road vehicles’ category (which also includes lorries, road tractors, motorcycles, trailers and motor-vehicle parts), motor cars represented 60% of extra-EU-27 exports and 57% of extra-EU imports in 2007. Parts and accessories of motor vehicles had a share of 22% and 21% respectively.
Germany was responsible for over half (57%) of total extra-EU motor car exports and was the only Member State to show a positive trade balance of noticeable size.
At the same time, Germany was also the biggest importer of motor cars in 2007: about one quarter of the total value of extra-EU-27 imports can be ascribed to Germany, well ahead of Belgium, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Russia cruises past Switzerland and Japan to second place on the export market
In 2006 (the latest year currently available for the countries listed), the value of motor car exports from the United States was EUR 28.2 bn while US imports were nearly four times that value, resulting in a EUR 81.3 bn trade deficit. Conversely, Japan was the biggest net exporter with a trade surplus of EUR 69.2 bn. The EU balance in motor cars trade in 2006 showed a surplus of EUR 36.1 bn: exports worth EUR 68.1 bn stood against imports valued EUR 31.9 bn (see Graph 1).
In 2007, over one third (35%) of the extra-EU motor car imports came from Japan (see Table 1), well ahead of South Korea (20%) and the USA (19%). Imports from USA and South Korea have been growing at an average 17% and 10% per year respectively between 2000 and 2007. Imports from Turkey increased much faster during the same period (+33% per year on average). The strongest relative growth was registered for imports from China (+94% per year between 2000 and 2007) but absolute values remained low.
In 2007, the USA remained the number one partner for extra-EU exports with a share of 35% (close to EUR 25 billion). At 6.7 bn, Russia overtook Switzerland and Japan and became the second export market for the EU (9% share) due to a particularly strong growth (+34% per year on average between 2000 and 2007). Starting from a low level in absolute terms, exports to China displayed an impressive average growth rate between 2000 and 2007 of 46% per year.
Motor cars represents around 60% of total road vehicles
‘Road vehicles’ represented 10.3% (EUR 119.1 bn) of total extra-EU exports and 4.4% (EUR 59.5 bn) of total extra-EU imports in 2007 (see Table 2). All subcategories of ‘Road vehicles’ generated trade surpluses except ‘Motor cycles and cycles’ with a deficit of EUR 4.4 bn. ‘Motor cars and other motor vehicles’ is the main category within ‘Road vehicles’ with a share of around 60% in exports and 57% in imports. ‘Parts and accessories of motor vehicles’ follows with shares of around 20%. In relative terms, two sectors are noteworthy: ‘Motor cycles and cycles’ are mainly imported (10% of road vehicles' imports) whereas ‘Road vehicles, not elsewhere specified’ such as road tractors are mainly exported (4% of road vehicles exports).
Looking at the 2007 exports of motor cars by the individual Member States, Germany alone was responsible for well over half (57%) of the EU-27 total and was the only country to show a highly positive trade balance (EUR 32 bn – see last column of Table 3). The United Kingdom, ranking second, registered only one fifth of the German export value with a share of 12%. It should be noted that in relative terms (i.e. compared to the total trade), exports of motor cars from countries such as Slovakia, Austria and the Czech Republic are fairly important.
Between 2000 and 2007, extra-EU exports have developed particularly fast in Poland and Slovakia, although the shares remain of lesser importance (share of 1.2% and 2.7% respectively in the EU-27 total). Conversely, the value of car exports from the Netherlands dropped sharply over the period to reach EUR 281 million, less than one third of what it was in 2000 (EUR 1 097 million).
With a value of EUR 8.3 bn, Germany’s share in total EU car imports was the most significant (25% of the EU total), followed by Belgium and Spain, with shares of around 12%. Looking at the development between 2000 and 2007, German imports displayed a continuous increase (6% on average) with a sharp rise between 2005 and 2006. Romania stands out as the Member State where imports have experienced the most noticeable relative increase (50% per year on average), followed by Slovenia (45%).
Apart from Germany, ten other Member States featured trade surpluses in 2007. Conversely, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium registered large deficits with values ranging between EUR 1.5 bn and EUR 1.3 bn.
Data sources and availability
Products of the road vehicles sector are defined according to the ‘Fourth revision of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC)’. They include divisions 781 Motor Cars and other motor vehicles (transport of persons); 782 Motor vehicles (transport of goods) and special-purpose motor vehicles; 783 Road vehicles, not elsewhere specified (tractors, etc); 784 Parts and accessories of motor vehicles; 785 Motor cycles and cycles, motorized and non-motorized; invalid carriages as well as 786 Trailers and semi-trailers.
EU data are compiled according to Community guidelines and may therefore differ from the national data published by the Member States.
Context
Motor cars represents around 60% of total road vehicles
‘Road vehicles’ represented 10.3% (EUR 119.1 bn) of total extra-EU exports and 4.4% (EUR 59.5 bn) of total extra-EU imports in 2007 (see Table 2). All subcategories of ‘Road vehicles’ generated trade surpluses except ‘Motor cycles and cycles’ with a deficit of EUR 4.4 bn. ‘Motor cars and other motor vehicles’ is the main category within ‘Road vehicles’ with a share of around 60% in exports and 57% in imports. ‘Parts and accessories of motor vehicles’ follows with shares of around 20%. In relative terms, two sectors are noteworthy: ‘Motor cycles and cycles’ are mainly imported (10% of road vehicles' imports) whereas ‘Road vehicles, not elsewhere specified’ such as road tractors are mainly exported (4% of road vehicles exports).
Looking at the 2007 exports of motor cars by the individual Member States, Germany alone was responsible for well over half (57%) of the EU-27 total and was the only country to show a highly positive trade balance (EUR 32 bn – see last column of Table 3). The United Kingdom, ranking second, registered only one fifth of the German export value with a share of 12%. It should be noted that in relative terms (i.e. compared to the total trade), exports of motor cars from countries such as Slovakia, Austria and the Czech Republic are fairly important.
Between 2000 and 2007, extra-EU exports have developed particularly fast in Poland and Slovakia, although the shares remain of lesser importance (share of 1.2% and 2.7% respectively in the EU-27 total). Conversely, the value of car exports from the Netherlands dropped sharply over the period to reach EUR 281 million, less than one third of what it was in 2000 (EUR 1 097 million).
With a value of EUR 8.3 bn, Germany’s share in total EU car imports was the most significant (25% of the EU total), followed by Belgium and Spain, with shares of around 12%. Looking at the development between 2000 and 2007, German imports displayed a continuous increase (6% on average) with a sharp rise between 2005 and 2006. Romania stands out as the Member State where imports have experienced the most noticeable relative increase (50% per year on average), followed by Slovenia (45%).
Apart from Germany, ten other Member States featured trade surpluses in 2007. Conversely, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium registered large deficits with values ranging between EUR 1.5 bn and EUR 1.3 bn.
Further Eurostat information
Publications
Tables, graphs and maps
- External Trade see:
- External trade aggregated data
Database
- External Trade see:
- External trade detailed data
Dedicated section on web site
See also
- External trade
- International trade in goods
- International trade in services
- Trade integration of goods and services