Euro zone trade surplus surges

The euro zone posted a large surge in its trade surplus with the rest of the world in June from May, data released on Friday by the European Union statistics office showed, as exports grew faster than imports on the month.

Eurostat said that the 19-country bloc recorded in June a surplus of 18.1 billion euros ($21.2 billion), up from a positive trade balance of 7.5 billion euros in May.

The bloc exported goods worth 209.9 billion euros in June, for a nearly 22 per cent rise from May. Its bill for imports was 191.8 billion euros, nearly 17 per cent more than in May.