Brussels, 05/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - Total EU agri-food exports to third countries increased by 2.3% in value in the period August 2014-February 2015 compared to the same period of the previous year, and this in spite of the Russian embargo on EU agricultural products.
According to information released by the European Commission on Thursday 4 June, European agricultural produce exports to third countries in February 2015 increased by 6% compared to February 2014, due to an increase of exports to the US and China, as well in part as a result of the weakening of the euro.
Exports to Russia fell sharply from €6.9 billion to €4 billion (-41%), the result of a nearly complete disappearance of exports within the banned product categories and a slight increase (+0.5%) for products not subject to the ban.
The EU managed to compensate the losses in export sales to Russia by increasing agri-food exports to most of the main destinations. Major gains in export values were achieved in the US (+€1 billion or +12% in August 2014 to February 2015 compared to the same period in the previous year, with +€225 million of this coming in the month of February alone), China, now second export destination (+€632 million or +16%), and on other key Asian markets such as Hong Kong (+€ 575 million or +26%) and South Korea (+€357 million or +33%). Also, agri-food exports to Turkey increased significantly during the considered period (+€384 million or +24%).
With regard to the products subject to the Russian embargo, the most significant losses in export values were registered for fruit and vegetables (-€480 million or -14%), cheese (-€392 million or -17%), and butter (-€19 million or -5%, but recovering strongly in the last few months).
In the meat sector, the data show a 3% increase in pork exports. Beef exports rose by 10% and poultry by 4%. “The losses on the Russian market were offset by the expansion to other destinations: mainly Asia for pork meat, Turkey (live animals) and Asia for beef meat and Africa for poultry meat”, notes the Commission. Particularly good export performances were registered for bakery products, pasta and infant food (+€758 million or +14%), chocolate, confectionary and ice cream (+€240 million or +8%) and also for pet food (+€171 million or +10%), gluten (+€121 million or +9%) and live animals (+€114 million or +10%). (Lionel Changeur)