Brussels, 18/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - Despite the Russian embargo in the import of European agricultural products that has been in place since the summer of 2014, EU agri-food exports reached record levels (up 6%) in 2015. Imports also rose sharply, by 8.7%.
In 2015, EU agri-food exports to third countries reached a record value of €129 billion, an increase of 6% on 2014.
Over the 12 months of the year, major gains were made in exports to the USA (+18.5%) and China (+39%), which has overtaken Russia as the second export destination for EU products, and to other markets, such as Saudi Arabia (up 34%) and Turkey (up 20%). Exports to Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Australia, Canada and South Korea also rose.
The products which recorded the highest increases were cereals other than wheat (up €1.2 billion, 68%), wines (+€835 million, 9%), spirits (+€641 million, 7%), hides and skins (+€526 million, 23%), live animals (+€486 million, 25%) and beers, water and fizzy drinks.
The products which, on the other hand, recorded that largest falls were milk powders (down €843 million, 17%), fresh fruit (-€341 million, 12%), and cheese (-€120 million, 3%). These products were affected by the Russian ban and the drop in Chinese demand for dairy products and exports fell accordingly.
Trade balance remains positive but is falling. Imports totalled €113 billion, an increase of 8.7% on 2014. Brazil remained the EU's major supplier (€13.2 billion). Imports from the United States, the second largest supplier, rose sharply (up €1.6 billion to €12 billion, a 16% rise). Other significant increases were Turkey (+€862 million, 21%), China (+€489 million, 10%), Argentina (+€466 million, 9%), Vietnam (+€377 million, 20%) and Colombia (+€360 million, +21%). In terms of products, the largest import increase in value was for olive oil, jumping from €143 million in 2014 to €724 million in 2015, a five-fold increase in a year. In total, the EU agri-food trade balance in 2015 was in surplus to the tune of €16 billion, slightly down on the €18 billion in 2014. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)