ASEAN as a whole represents the EU's 3rd largest trading partner outside Europe (after the US and China) with more than €206 billion of trade in goods and services in 2011.

The EU is ASEAN's 2nd largest trading partner after China, accounting for around 11% of ASEAN trade.

The EU is by far the largest investor in ASEAN countries. EU companies have on average, invested around €9.1 billion annually between 2000 and 2009. The total stock of mutual investments between the EU and ASEAN exceeds €125 billion.

The EU's main exports to ASEAN are chemical products, machinery and transport equipment;

The main imports from ASEAN to the EU are machinery and transport equipments, agricultural products as well as textiles and clothing.

Free trade negotiations with ASEAN countries

The EU has increased its economic ties with South East Asia by opening negotiations of free trade agreements with Singapore and Malaysia in 2010 and Vietnam in 2012. The EU's door remains open to start negotiations with other partners in the region on comprehensive free trade agreements, whilst also continuing to pursue the goal of an agreement within the ASEAN regional framework.

EU-ASEAN Cooperation on Trade

This co-operation is ensured mainly through an EU-ASEAN Dialogue which includes discussions on trade and investment issues at ministerial (EC-AEM Consultations) and senior economic officials (SEOM) levels.

At a more technical level, the EU and the ASEAN Secretariat conduct seminars on topics such as regional economic integration, liberalization of services, technical barriers to trade and trade facilitation.

Data

Trade in goods and services:

• EU-ASEAN trade in goods: €161.7 billion (2011)
• EU-ASEAN trade in goods: €146.7 billion (2010)
• EU-ASEAN trade in commercial services: €44.3 billion (2010)
• EU-ASEAN trade in goods & commercial services: €191 billion. (2010)

FDI to ASEAN:

• EU FDI outflows to ASEAN: €21.9 billion (2010)
• EU FDI outward stocks with ASEAN: € 192.7 billion (2010)

FDI from ASEAN:

• EU FDI inflows from ASEAN: €9.1 billion (2010)
• EU FDI inward stocks from ASEAN: € 67.9 billion (2010)

(EC Trade Commission figures)