The goods surplus stood at €1,135m, with increased in exports (9%) and imports (12%). The balance of international trade in services increased by 10% in the first three quarters of 2021 (+€1,637m)
Different sectors fared more or less well in this growth, however. Trade in non-financial services, for example, increased 4% for exports and 3% for imports. International trade in financial services posted stronger growth, with +16% for exports and +19% for imports.
Direct investment flows saw losses for assets (-€118bn) and liabilities (-€106bn).
Transactions in Luxembourg equities, resulted in net inflows of €339bn during the first three quarters of 2021, compared with net inflows of €135bn in the same period in 2020 as financial markets improved.
Debt securities, on the other hand, continued to experience net sales, reaching €23bn during the first three quarters of 2021. Transactions in foreign equity securities resulted in net purchases of €173bn during the first three quarters of 2021, compared to net purchases of €3bn in the same quarters of 2020.
Foreign debt securities underwent net purchases, amounting to €103bn during the first three quarters of 2021, an amount almost identical to that recorded over the same period in 2020.
Overall, the balance of payment surplus was down €1,561m compared to the same period of the previous year, the BCL and Statec .