The Europäische Zentralbank (ECB) published the monthly balance of payments data on 19 August 2026. For June 2026 the eurozone near the current account surplus was €35 billion. Compared with May 2026, the monthly balance increased by €9 billion. Over a 12-month period, the cumulative surplus fell to €276 billion (about 1.7 per cent of GDP), from €305 billion (around 2.0 per cent of GDP) a year earlier. The announcement was published on the Spanish central bank network via Banco de España .
According to the ECB, the June figure resulted from positive balances in goods account (around €18 billion), the services balance (around €16 billion) and primary income (about €17 billion). This was offset by a deficit in secondary income of approximately €16 billion. The reported series are adjusted for seasonal and working-day effects; possible differences due to revisions and rounding should be borne in mind.
At the financial account the ECB reports brisk cross-border portfolio activity. Euro area residents increased their net acquisitions of debt and equity securities, while funds flowed on balance from outside the euro area into the currency union’s equity instruments. A notable feature is an increase in net debt inflows in the form of bonds compared with the previous year, suggesting stronger demand for fixed-income securities. These figures relate both to monthly values and 12-month aggregates and reflect flows, not stocks.
A sustained 12-month current account surplus signals a net external saving position for the eurozone. The balance figures alone do not make it possible to determine conclusively which factors – such as terms of trade, energy prices or demand for industrial and services exports – are driving the recent fall in the 12-month balance. The ECB’s announcement makes no forecasts about future developments. A fuller assessment would require additional economic, price and financial market data, including detailed balance of payments tables and a breakdown by partner country.
The publication follows the ECB’s regular statistical calendar and complements national publications in the euro area. As a member of the eurozone, Spain is included in the aggregate figures; differences between countries may reflect different trade and income structures, but are only shown in country-specific balance of payments statistics.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).