CHANGES OF EU COUNTRIES POSITIONS IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE OF MINERAL FUELS IN 2006–2015

Abstract

This paper analyzes changes of exports, imports and trade balance in mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials (named fuels in this article) of EU member states in 2006–2015. Fuels are specific commodities because the most of the EU countries are dependent on fuel imports. Moreover, trade balance in fuels is important for EU countries because of its significant importance for trade balance in all goods. Author illustrated a dominating position of net importer of fuels in this period. There were the following most important net importers of fuels in 2015: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Belgium, Austria and Poland. In 2006, Germany was also the first net importer but Italy was the second one and France the third one. Poland obtained the ninth position in 2006. Denmark was the EU net exporter of fuels in the researched period. Moreover, trade deficit in fuels of most EU net importers improved, i.e. decreased in 2015 in comparison to the situation in 2006 because of the lower oil prices and undertaking of ecological innovations in production, including the agriculture. In the researched analyzed period, the biggest imports and trade deficits in fuels of the majority of EU countries were in 2008. Such a situation was connected with the third oil shock.