The euro area trade surplus edged down in August, compared with the last year, with declining exports to China and geopolitical tensions likely to continue to delay a sustained recovery.

China's September imports totalled $220bn, resulting in a weaker-than-expected 0.3% YoY growth rate, down from August's 0.5% YoY and falling short of market forecasts. Through the first three quarters of the year, China's imports grew by 2.2% YoY to date.