The European Union has experienced a shift in its biggest trade partners since the early 2000s. Over the past two decades, the share of EU imports flowing from China has more than doubled, from around 8 percent in 2002 to over 20 percent in 2024, making China the EU's largest external import partner. At the same time, the proportion of total imports coming from the United Kingdom, which was historically a large importer to EU countries (the UK was an EU member state until 2020), have more than halved, from 18 percent to less than 7 percent. This secular trend existed before the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016, however, there has been a notable drop in imports from the UK since Brexit was enacted in 2020. By contrast the share of the EU's import trade taken by the U.S., Switzerland, and the Rest of World have remained relatively stable over this period. The share of exports coming from Russia was growing steadily in the period before 2014, after which the EU imposed economic sanctions on Russia due to the illegal annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Imports from Russia collapsed in 2023, due to the effect of the additional economic sanctions placed on Russia in response to the full scale invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022.The Russian Federation is now only the tenth-largest exporter to the EU, after India, Japan, and South Korea.

As of 2023, the country from which EU member states imported the most was from Germany, followed by the Netherlands. In terms of non-EU exporters to the EU, China is currently the largest trading partner, accounting for 8 percent of all imports in 2023 - a tenfold increase in its share of EU imports since 1988. Other exporters who have grown to be important trading partners for EU countries in recent decades include the post-communist countries of Poland and Czechia, both of whom joined the EU in 2004. Poland's share of EU imports has more than doubled, from 1.4 percent to 3.8 percent, in the period since its entry into the EU, while Czechia's has increased from 1.3 percent to 2.8 percent over the same period. Several exporters have declined in relative importance for EU countries during this period, with the United Kingdom, United States, France, and Italy seeing their shares decline. The United Kingdom in particular has seen its share of EU imports drop to nearly a third of their 1997 level, when the UK made up 7.2 percent of all imports into EU countries. The UK reported a significant drop in 2021, the first full year after the country left the EU, however, the UK's share of EU imports has slightly risen in subsequent years.

The United States is the European Union's biggest trading partner as of 2023, with the total value of trade between the EU and the North American country exceeding ****billion dollars. China was the EU's second-largest trading partner, however, in contrast to the substantial trade surplus that the EU has with the United States, the EU has a large trade deficit with China. In 2022, the EU imported *** billion euros worth of goods from China than it exported to the East Asian country. Other prominent trade partners included the UK, Switzerland, and Turkey.

Exports: FOB: Europe: EU Countries: Others data was reported at 13.600 EUR mn in Dec 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 12.600 EUR mn for Sep 2019. Exports: FOB: Europe: EU Countries: Others data is updated quarterly, averaging 6.150 EUR mn from Mar 2008 (Median) to Dec 2019, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.700 EUR mn in Jun 2019 and a record low of 0.082 EUR mn in Mar 2008. Exports: FOB: Europe: EU Countries: Others data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bulgarian National Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bulgaria – Table BG.JA005: Exports: by Main Trade Partners and End Use.

In 2024, 12.5 percent of goods imports into the United Kingdom came from Germany, making it the main import partner that year. Imports from the United States accounted for ten percent of UK goods imports, making America the UK's second main import partner, followed by China on 9.8 percent. As of this year, the overall import value of cars to the UK was approximately 38.4 billion British pounds, the most of any commodity in 2024. Europe remains UK's main trading partner Several years after the Brexit vote, and the eventual departure from the European Union, European countries account for most of the UK's trade. As of 2024, approximately 50.8 percent of the UK's exports went to Europe, with 60.1 percent of imports coming from there, the vast majority of which were in the European Single Market. After Europe, American countries were the UK's main destination for exports, at around 19.2 percent, while countries in the Asia Pacific region were the second-main source for imports, at 19.1 percent in 2024. UK attitudes to Brexit in 2025 Since the UK left the EU in 2020, there has been a gradual but consistent increase in the share of people who believe Brexit to have been a mistake. As of January 2025, when asked if they thought it was right or wrong to leave the EU, approximately 55 percent thought it was the wrong decision, compared with 30 percent who thought it was the correct choice. In addition to this, a majority of Britons thought that the impacts of leaving the EU had been mainly negative. Regarding international trade, 57 percent believed that Brexit had been detrimental, compared with just 11 percent who thought it had a positive impact.

The European Union's total Exports in 2024 were valued at US$2.80 Trillion, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. The European Union's main export partners were: the United States, the United Kingdom and China. The top three export commodities were: Machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers; Pharmaceutical products and Vehicles other than railway, tramway. Total Imports were valued at US$2.64 Trillion. In 2024, The European Union had a trade surplus of US$159.68 Billion.

Exports: FOB: Europe: EU 27E: Consumer Goods data was reported at 1,682.100 EUR mn in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,590.400 EUR mn for Sep 2024. Exports: FOB: Europe: EU 27E: Consumer Goods data is updated quarterly, averaging 1,633.600 EUR mn from Mar 2020 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,128.000 EUR mn in Jun 2022 and a record low of 1,298.300 EUR mn in Jun 2020. Exports: FOB: Europe: EU 27E: Consumer Goods data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bulgarian National Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bulgaria – Table BG.JA005: Exports: by Main Trade Partners and End Use.

Poland Imports: EUR: Year to Date: Central and Eastern Europe data was reported at 7,882.600 EUR mn in May 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 6,304.000 EUR mn for Apr 2018. Poland Imports: EUR: Year to Date: Central and Eastern Europe data is updated monthly, averaging 6,858.550 EUR mn from Dec 2000 (Median) to May 2018, with 206 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 24,524.800 EUR mn in Dec 2012 and a record low of 572.700 EUR mn in Jan 2005. Poland Imports: EUR: Year to Date: Central and Eastern Europe data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Statistical Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Poland – Table PL.JA002: Trade Statistics: ytd: by Main Trade Partner.

Between 1933 and 1939, Germany expanded and strengthened its trade connections with a number of Eastern European countries to a point where their economic expansion became dependent on trade with Germany, making it the dominant economic power in the region. By 1939, the year the Second World War began in Europe, Germany was the largest trading partner of the four countries listed; this was also true of Czechoslovakia in 1937, Poland in 1938, and the Soviet Union in 1940, although the share of total exports to Germany from these countries was lower. German influence increases in the Second World War To consolidate its power in the region, Germany exported its high-quality industrial products to these countries and paid above-market prices to import raw materials and agricultural produce. Following the outbreak of the war, Germany invested more into the farming sectors of the four countries listed, to the point where they were economically subordinate and considered satellite extensions of the German economy. The demand for agricultural imports from these countries impeded their industrialization and prevented them from developing their industries that could compete with Germany. Three of the countries listed would side with the Axis powers as the war escalated. At the same time, Yugoslavia was quickly annexed, and a puppet government was installed, continuing the agricultural supply to Germany. Post-war difficulties Following the war, the four listed countries eventually fell within the Soviet sphere of influence (though Yugoslavia to a lesser extent than the other three), and the dominance of agricultural sectors led to difficulties, as new communist governments attempted to take their economies in a more industrialized direction. The socialist economic systems required the agricultural means of production to be publicly owned (collectivized); however, many rural landowners were unwilling to part from their land; especially in Bulgaria. These factors exacerbated the delaying effect that Germany had had on these countries' industrialization in the 1930s, contributing to the economic imbalances that emerged between Europe's Eastern and Western Blocs in the decades that followed.

Poland Exports: Year to Date: Central and Eastern Europe data was reported at 20,666.400 PLN mn in May 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 16,361.800 PLN mn for Apr 2018. Poland Exports: Year to Date: Central and Eastern Europe data is updated monthly, averaging 19,258.100 PLN mn from Dec 1999 (Median) to May 2018, with 207 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 61,011.200 PLN mn in Dec 2013 and a record low of 1,600.000 PLN mn in Jan 2005. Poland Exports: Year to Date: Central and Eastern Europe data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Statistical Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Poland – Table PL.JA002: Trade Statistics: ytd: by Main Trade Partner.

Poland Exports: EUR: Year to Date: Central and Eastern Europe data was reported at 9,400.000 EUR mn in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 8,329.500 EUR mn for Aug 2018. Poland Exports: EUR: Year to Date: Central and Eastern Europe data is updated monthly, averaging 4,767.600 EUR mn from Dec 2000 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 210 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14,585.400 EUR mn in Dec 2013 and a record low of 402.700 EUR mn in Jan 2005. Poland Exports: EUR: Year to Date: Central and Eastern Europe data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Statistical Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Poland – Table PL.JA002: Trade Statistics: ytd: by Main Trade Partner.

Russia's leading five export partners in 2023 were China, India, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Brazil. The value of total exports from Russia to its major trade partner — China — exceeded 128 billion U.S. dollars. Trade between Russia and China China was not only the leading export destination of Russian commodities, but also the major import partner of the country. Prior to 2018, the value of Russian imports from China prevailed the Russian exports’ worth to the country. It was in 2018 when for the first time, the trade balance of Russia with China turned positive and amounted to about 3.8 billion U.S. dollars. Russia's primary export goods, mineral and energy products, were also the most imported commodities by China from the country. Russian trade with Europe Trade flows between Russia and the EU have been in decline over the past years. In 2023, the EU export value to Russia exceeded 38 billion U.S. dollars — roughly 12 billion U.S. dollars below the EU imports’ worth from Russia in that year. Germany was the major importer of Russian goods in the region.

The United Kingdom imported 48 billion U.S. dollars worth of chemical products from Europe and Central Asia in 2022. That same year, the UK also exported around 38 billion U.S. dollars worth of chemicals to this region, making Europe and Central Asia the main trading partner for the UK's chemical industry.

Bulgaria Exports: FOB: Europe: European Union 27 excl UK (EU 27E) data was reported at 6,999.500 EUR mn in Sep 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7,153.200 EUR mn for Jun 2024. Bulgaria Exports: FOB: Europe: European Union 27 excl UK (EU 27E) data is updated quarterly, averaging 6,663.700 EUR mn from Mar 2020 (Median) to Sep 2024, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8,272.200 EUR mn in Jun 2022 and a record low of 4,071.400 EUR mn in Jun 2020. Bulgaria Exports: FOB: Europe: European Union 27 excl UK (EU 27E) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bulgarian National Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bulgaria – Table BG.JA005: Exports: by Main Trade Partners and End Use.

Bulgaria Exports: FOB: Europe: EU Countries: Investment Goods data was reported at 1,262.500 EUR mn in Dec 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,261.300 EUR mn for Sep 2019. Bulgaria Exports: FOB: Europe: EU Countries: Investment Goods data is updated quarterly, averaging 317.163 EUR mn from Mar 1995 (Median) to Dec 2019, with 100 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,332.000 EUR mn in Jun 2019 and a record low of 44.356 EUR mn in Mar 1995. Bulgaria Exports: FOB: Europe: EU Countries: Investment Goods data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bulgarian National Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bulgaria – Table BG.JA005: Exports: by Main Trade Partners and End Use.

Poland Imports: USD: Year to Date: Central and Eastern Europe data was reported at 9.600 USD bn in May 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 7.689 USD bn for Apr 2018. Poland Imports: USD: Year to Date: Central and Eastern Europe data is updated monthly, averaging 8.040 USD bn from Dec 1999 (Median) to May 2018, with 207 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 31.589 USD bn in Dec 2012 and a record low of 761.900 USD mn in Jan 2005. Poland Imports: USD: Year to Date: Central and Eastern Europe data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Statistical Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Poland – Table PL.JA002: Trade Statistics: ytd: by Main Trade Partner.

The Netherlands continued its dominance in the global bird egg trade. In 2014, the Netherlands exported 554 thousand tons of bird eggs totaling 976 million USD, 3% under the previous year. Its primary trading partner on the global egg market was Germany, where it supplied 54% of its total bird egg exports in value terms, accounting for 78% of Germany's total imports.

Bulgaria Exports: FOB: Europe: EU Countries data was reported at 4,965.900 EUR mn in Dec 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5,116.100 EUR mn for Sep 2019. Bulgaria Exports: FOB: Europe: EU Countries data is updated quarterly, averaging 1,907.052 EUR mn from Mar 1995 (Median) to Dec 2019, with 100 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,124.100 EUR mn in Sep 2018 and a record low of 386.477 EUR mn in Mar 1995. Bulgaria Exports: FOB: Europe: EU Countries data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bulgarian National Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bulgaria – Table BG.JA005: Exports: by Main Trade Partners and End Use.

Japan dominates in the global sesame oil trade. In 2014, Japan exported 6 thousand tons of sesame oil totaling 44 million USD, 9% over the previous year. Its primary trading partner on the global sesame oil market was the U.S., where it supplied 73% of its total sesame oil exports in value terms, accounting for 45% of the U.S. total imports.

This statistic shows Iran's main import partners in 2023, sorted by their share in total imports. In 2023, Iran's main import partner was the China with a share of 34 percent in all imports. Iran's struggling economy Iran’s main import partners in descending order of importance include the United Arab Emirates, China, Algeria, India, South Korea and Turkey. Together the United Arab Emirates and China compose over 50 percent of all imports. No European countries or the United States are close trade partners with Iran for neither imports nor exports. Iran has been isolated from the west with sanctions due to concerns over the country's role in the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction for decades. In 2011, further sanctions on Iran from the United States and Europe were agreed upon, which negatively affected Iran’s economy. This also had an effect on the value of totalimports into the country which also dropped slightly around the same period. This is likely due to the fact that Iran’s GDP per capita also reduced significantly thereafter, limiting the country’s capacity to import goods. Compared to the GDP per capita of Saudi Arabia, Iran’s is significantly lower. Aside from the Saudi Arabian oil trade, one difference could be attributed to the fact that Saudi Arabia, in contrast to Iran, has developed strong international ties and trades freely with Europe and the United States, whereas Iran remains isolated for the time being.