Year-on-year, exports dropped by 0.1% to EUR 4,508.6 million, as sales to non-EU countries fell by 0.5%, while those to the EU rose by 0.2%.

Meanwhile, imports jumped by 28.4% to a record high of EUR 5,499.1 million, largely attributed to an 82.8% rise in purchases from non-EU countries, whereas imports from the EU decreased by 2.4%.