EU international trade in services reached €5.93 trillion in 2023, according to Eurostat, highlighting the scale of global economic integration and the central role of the United States as a key partner.

The data showed that EU countries exported €3.26 trillion in services to non-EU countries, while imports totalled €2.66 trillion, resulting in a positive trade balance of €605 billion.

The figures underline the strength of the EU’s external services sector, with exports significantly exceeding imports across global markets.

A breakdown by supply mode revealed that commercial presence accounted for the largest share of the surplus, generating €469 billion and representing 77.5 per cent of the total.

This was followed by cross-border supply contributing €65 billion, equivalent to 10.7 per cent of the surplus.

The presence of natural persons generated €40 billion, accounting for 6.6 per cent, while consumption abroad added €35 billion, representing 5.8 per cent.

Eurostat noted that the release included the first official data on services supplied via commercial presence, marking a significant development in measuring international trade flows.

The United States emerged as the EU’s leading partner in services trade via commercial presence, reinforcing its dominant position in transatlantic economic relations.

EU exports of services through commercial presence to the United States reached €486 billion, accounting for 27.1 per cent of total extra-EU exports in this category.

The United Kingdom followed with €268 billion, representing 15.0 per cent, while Switzerland recorded €215 billion, equivalent to 12.0 per cent.

On the import side, the United States was also the largest source of services entering the EU via commercial presence, with flows amounting to €564 billion.

This represented 42.6 per cent of total imports in this category, underlining the depth of US-EU economic ties.

The United Kingdom ranked second with €218 billion, accounting for 16.4 per cent of imports, followed by Switzerland with €114 billion, or 8.6 per cent.

Overall, the data confirmed that US-EU services trade remains the cornerstone of the bloc’s external economic relations, particularly through commercial presence, which dominates both exports and imports.

The findings also highlight the growing importance of services trade in global value chains, with the EU maintaining a strong competitive position in international markets.