Eurozone expands trade surplus in March despite protectionist calls

Brussels

THE eurozone increased its trade surplus with the rest of the world in March with both exports and imports rising markedly, in a sign that global commerce has so far not been hampered by protectionist calls.

The European Union (EU) statistics office Eurostat said on Tuesday the 19-country currency area recorded a 30.9 billion euro (S$47.8 billion) surplus in March in its goods trade balance with states outside the bloc, according to data not adjusted for seasonal factors.