After increasing for two consecutive quarters, levels of foreign trade for chemical products showed signs of abating in the third quarter. Exports were down 0.5% quarter-on-quarter and imports 1.2%.

For the first three quarters cumulatively, exports (including Pharmaceuticals) were worth €36.8bn, 16% more than for the same period in 2009. Imports were up 18.8% reaching a total of €32.7bn. The trade surplus at the end of the third quarter was €4.1bn, compared to €4.2bn in 2009.

Sales to emerging markets were significantly (20%) higher than in 2009. Similarly, sales to other countries in Europe were up as much as 11% in the third quarter compared to the same period in 2009, after a year-on-year increase of 17% in the second quarter.