BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) — The European Union's trade deficit with China in the first eight months of the year broke through the 100 billion euro (US$146.7 billion) barrier despite a 15 percent increase in exports, the EU statistics agency said Friday.
A massive 22 percent increase in imports from China over the same period effectively nixed advances, Eurostat showed, leaving the deficit at $147.56 billion, compared with $117.4 billion (80.2 billion euros) over the same period last year.
In concrete terms, the EU exported 46 billion euros ($67.34 billion) worth of goods to China but imported 146.8 billion euros ($214.9 billion) during the period.
Exports to Russia rose 29 percent to reach 55.7 billion euros ($81.54 billion), the biggest increase for any major trading partner, while Russian imports decreased by 5 percent to 92 billion euros ($134.68 billion).
The trade surplus of the 13 euro-nations increased to 3.1 billion euros ($4.54 billion) in September.
The EU's exports figures were affected by the strength of the euro, which stood at $1.46 on Friday.