EU agri-food exports to third countries were worth €129 billion between July 2015 and June 2016, a 2.1% increase compared to the same period in 2014-2015, according to the latest monthly report on agricultural trade, published by the European Commission on Friday 19 August.
European exports made the greatest improvements in China and the United States: sales to the US rose by €2.2 billion and to China by €1.8 billion. There was also an increase of €0.6 billion in sales to Saudi Arabia.
By sector, the biggest gains over the 12-month period were in pigmeat (up €986 million), wine (up €511 million) and live animals (up €502 million). The largest decreases were in raw hides and skins (down €1.1 billion), wheat (down €1.0 billion) and milk powders (down €695 million).
Annual agri-food imports rose by 3.5% to €113 billion in 2015-2016, despite a 9.6% drop in the value of imports from Brazil. Tropical fruit, nuts and spices was the sector that showed by far the greatest rise in imports into the EU (up €1.3 billion). The Commission also notes significant increases in 2015-2016 for cocoa beans (up €682 million) and oilseeds other than soya beans (up €624 million).
The figures for the month of June give an export value of €10.9 billion – the highest June value on record – with the monthly net trade surplus rising to €1.39 billion, relative to €870 million in June 2015. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)