The latest EU agri-food trade figures, published on Tuesday 31 May by the European Commission, show that the total value of EU agri-food trade was €28.3 billion in February 2022, up 18% on the same month last year.
EU agricultural exports rose by 11% to €16.6 billion, while imports increased by 30% (€11.7 billion), reflecting a trade balance in assets of €4.9 billion. This represents an increase of 52% compared to January 2022 and “a break from the trend of lower exports and higher imports that had been seen since autumn 2021”, according to the Commission.
In the first two months of 2022, exports to the United Kingdom and the United States increased significantly compared to the same period last year. Exports to the UK rose by 23% (thanks to wine, poultry and eggs) to a value of €6.6 billion and those to the US rose by 26% to €4 billion.
In the first two months of this year, agri-food imports from the UK increased by 75% (€2.1 billion), led by spirits and liqueurs (+105% in value). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)