Finance
Euro Zone Adjusted Current Account Surplus Widens
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 20, 2026
1 min readLast updated: March 20, 2026
Quick Summary
Euro zone’s adjusted current account surplus jumped to €37.9 billion in January from €13.3 billion in December, driven by a sharp rise in the trade surplus. However, the 12‑month surplus narrowed to 1.6 % of GDP from 2.5 % as rising energy costs begin to weigh.
Euro Zone Current Account Surplus Widens in January on Trade Growth
Euro Zone Current Account Performance and Trade Surplus
January Surplus Expansion
FRANKFURT, March 20 (Reuters) - The euro zone's adjusted current account surplus widened in January on a big jump in the trade surplus, a temporary rise before sharply higher energy costs weigh on data, European Central Bank figures showed on Friday.
Adjusted and Unadjusted Surplus Figures
The adjusted surplus rose to 37.9 billion euros in January from 13.3 billion euros a month earlier, while the unadjusted figure narrowed to 13.0 billion euros from 33.7 billion euros.
Year-on-Year Surplus Comparison
In the 12 months to January, the bloc's surplus narrowed to 1.6% of GDP from 2.5% in the preceding 12 months.
(Reporting by Balazs Koranyi, Editing by William Maclean)
Key Takeaways
- •Adjusted January surplus surged, signaling resilient non‑energy trade performance in the short term.
- •Unadjusted surplus contracted, reflecting volatile seasonal components or one‑off shifts.
- •Annual current account surplus declined as elevated energy import costs erode external balances.
Frequently Asked Questions about Euro zone adjusted current account surplus widens
1What was the euro zone's adjusted current account surplus in January?
The adjusted current account surplus in the euro zone rose to 37.9 billion euros in January.
2How did the euro zone's unadjusted current account surplus change?
The unadjusted surplus narrowed to 13.0 billion euros from 33.7 billion euros in the previous month.
3What contributed to the wider surplus in January?
A big jump in the trade surplus was the main factor behind the wider surplus in January.
4How did the current account surplus change over the 12 months to January?
Over the 12 months to January, the surplus narrowed to 1.6% of GDP from 2.5% in the preceding 12 months.
5What may affect future euro zone current account data?
Sharply higher energy costs may weigh on future current account data for the euro zone.
