EU agri-food exports reached a record high of €137.9 billion in 2017, i.e. an increase of 5.1% compared with 2016.
Major gains in value were made on exports to the United States (+6%, +€1.22 billion), Russia (+16%, +€182 million) and several Asian markets: Japan (+11%, +€645 million), China (+5%, +€591 million), Hong Kong (+10%, +€366 million) and South Korea (+13%, +€341 million). Other notable increases were: Turkey (+14%, +€456 million) and Switzerland (+4%, +€333million).
Inversely, European exports recorded a fall to North Africa and the Middle East, mainly due to the drop in cereal sales (Saudi Arabia -12%, Egypt -25%, Morocco -10%, etc).
In product terms, exports of wine (+€1.24 billion, +12%), powdered milk (+€926 million, +26%), baby food (+€722 million, +11%), pet food (+€602 million, +17%) and spirits and liqueurs (+€538 million, +5%) notched up the highest increases. Exports of wheat and other cereals as well as pig meat declined.
The EU trade balance remains positive with an export surplus of €20.5 billion. (Original version in French)