Euro Overtakes US Dollar as Leading Currency for EU Primary Goods Imports in 2025

The euro emerged as the most widely used currency for the European Union’s imports of primary goods from outside the bloc in 2025, excluding petroleum products, according to newly released data from Eurostat.

The report showed that the single European currency accounted for 47.4 per cent of all extra-EU imports of primary commodities during the year, narrowly surpassing the US dollar, which held a 45.0 per cent share.

Currencies belonging to EU member states that have not adopted the euro represented 1.7 per cent of total imports in this category, while other international currencies accounted for the remaining 5.3 per cent.

Despite the euro’s strong performance in primary commodity imports overall, the US dollar continued to dominate transactions involving petroleum products.

According to the data, the dollar was used in 86.7 per cent of all petroleum imports into the European Union during 2025, reinforcing its longstanding position as the principal currency for global energy trade.

The euro represented only 12.9 per cent of petroleum-related imports, while currencies from non-euro EU countries and other international currencies played only a marginal role, accounting for 0.2 per cent and 0.1 per cent respectively.

The report also examined trade involving manufactured goods and found that the US dollar remained the leading currency for imports in that category as well.

The dollar accounted for 46.2 per cent of extra-EU imports of manufactured products, while the euro followed closely with a 43.3 per cent share.

Other EU currencies made up 1.7 per cent of manufactured goods imports, while non-EU currencies represented a more notable 8.5 per cent of the market.

On the export side, the euro strengthened its position even further.

Eurostat’s figures showed that the euro was the dominant currency used for extra-EU exports of primary goods, capturing a 62.2 per cent share of transactions.

That placed the euro comfortably ahead of the US dollar, which accounted for 22.9 per cent of exports involving primary commodities.

Other domestic EU currencies contributed 2.5 per cent of export activity, while currencies from outside the European Union represented 12.1 per cent of the total.

Although the US dollar continued to lead petroleum exports from the bloc, its dominance was somewhat less pronounced compared to petroleum imports.

The dollar was used in 70.1 per cent of petroleum export transactions during 2025, while the euro secured a share of 27.5 per cent in the same category.

In the export market for manufactured goods, the euro again held the leading position.

The data showed that 50.4 per cent of extra-EU manufactured exports were conducted in euros, compared to 32.4 per cent in US dollars.

Meanwhile, other EU currencies accounted for 1.8 per cent of manufactured goods exports, while non-EU currencies represented 15.2 per cent of the total currency usage in that segment.

The findings highlighted the euro’s growing influence in international trade involving the European Union, particularly in sectors outside the global petroleum market, where the US dollar continues to maintain overwhelming dominance.

By fLEXI tEAM