Africa maintained a positive trade balance with the rest of the World between 2000 and 2013, but balances have turned negative since then.
This is due particularly to deteriorating trade balances in Eastern and Northern Africa.
The deterioration of trade balances is mostly due to increased trade with emerging markets and other developing economies.
Africa has a positive trade balance with Spain, Italy and The Netherlands, and a negative one with France and Germany.
EU exports to Africa peaked in April 2013, and have been quite steady in nominal terms since then, indicating a real decline in the volume.
North Africa accounts for more than 50% of EU exports to Africa.
France and Germany are the largest EU exporters to Africa.
Germany exports to North Africa, but also significant volumes to South Africa.
France mostly exports to North Africa.