The Euro-zone's trade deficit hit 2.3 billion euros (2.8 billion U.S. dollars) in November 2005, compared with a surplus of 2.6 billion euros (3.2 billion dollars ) a year ago, Eurostat said on Thursday in its first estimate.

The unfavorable balance also stands against the backdrop of a 0.6 billion euro (0.7 billion dollars) surplus in October 2005. In October 2004, the surplus stood at 4.9 billion euros (5.9 billion dollars).

Seasonally adjusted exports increased by 4.0 percent and imports by 3.0 percent in November 2005 compared to the previous month in the 12 EU nations that share the euro, according to Eurostat, the statistical service of the European Union (EU).

It put the extra-EU trade deficit at 14.3 billion euros (17.3 billion dollars) in November 2005, in contrast with a deficit of 8.5 billion euros (10.3 billion dollars) in November 2004.

In October 2005, the balance showed a deficit of 11.1 billion euros (13.4billion dollars) against 7.1 billion euros (8.6 billion dollars) in deficit for October 2004.

Seasonally adjusted EU exports in November 2005 rose by 3.0 percent and imports by 1.8 from October 2005.

In the first 10 months of 2005, the energy deficit grew to 177.4 billion euros (214.7 billion dollars) from 119.4 billion euros (144.5 billion dollars) for the same period of 2004.

Machinery and vehicles saw a rise from 66.7 billion euros (80.7 billion dollars) between January and October 2004 to 85.8 billion euros (97.4 billion dollars) for the same period of 2005.

The surplus in the chemicals sector also slightly increased from 54.0 billion euros (65.3 billion dollars) to 57.6 billion (69.7 billion dollars).

In the first 10 months of 2005, the EU's trade flows with its major partners grew, Eurostat said.

It reported the most notable increases in exports to India (+25 percent), Russia (+23 percent), South Korea (+12 percent) and Norway (+11 percent).

It also listed the fastest growth in imports from Russia (+33 percent), China (+23 percent), Norway (+19 percent) and India (+17 percent).

As an exception, the EU's exports to Japan remained stable and imports fell by 3 percent.

The EU's trade surplus with the United States and Switzerland increased; its trade deficit with China, Russia and Norway grew, but fell with Japan.

Among individual member states, Germany witnessed the largest surplus of 135.9 billion euros (164.4 billion dollars ) between January and October 2005, followed by the Netherlands, Ireland and Sweden.

Britain registered the largest deficit of 80.7 billion euros (97.7 billion dollars), followed by Spain, Greece and France.

Source: Xinhua