(BRUSSELS) - The 15 nations sharing the euro saw their trade balance slide deeper into deficit in July as imports grew faster than exports, according to official EU data on Wednesday.

The eurozone chalked up a trade deficit of 2.3 billion euros (3.3 billion dollars) in July, up from a revised shortfall of 200 million euros in June, the European Union's Eurostat data agency said.

In July 2007, the eurozone booked a trade surplus of 5.0 billion euros.

Imports into the eurozone grew 17 percent in July over one year to 144.9 billion euros while exports expanded 10 percent to 142.6 billion euros, Eurostat said.

Meanwhile, the 27-nation EU recorded a trade deficit of 21.5 billion euros with the rest the world in July, up from 20.0 billion euros in June and from 13.6 billion euros in July 2007.

Further details - Eurostat

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