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The European Commission's 2024 agri-food report shows that both exports and imports in the sector reached a record level. Despite on-going global challenges, the report describes several positive developments. The EU agrifood trade balance is largely positive at €63.6 billion.
Exports
Year on year, cumulative EU agri-food exports increased by 3% (+€6.6 billion) to €235.4 billion. While cereal preparations (€24.8 billion, 11%), dairy products (€19.7 billion, 8%), and wine (€17.4 billion, 7%) head the list of products in the sector, olives, and cocoa products had the biggest increases in value, due largely to price surges.
The UK remained the first destination of EU agri-food exports in 2024, representing 23% of EU exports (€53.9 billion). Pigmeat was among the main categories of EU exports to the UK in 2024 representing 7% of the EU export value. Exports to Russia and China declined.
China was the third main destination of EU exports in 2024 (6% of EU exports). However, EU
exports to China registered the largest reduction, with a decrease of EUR 1.3 billion (-9%) compared to 2023. This is explained in particular by reductions in some of the key categories of EU exports to China including cereals (- EUR 596 million, -43%) and pigmeat (- EUR 303 million, -12%), This continued a trend of decreasing EU exports to China since 2020, in particular for pigmeat.
Imports
Imports in agri-food also reached a new record level, growing by 8% (+€12.4 billion) to €171.8 billion. This was primarily driven by a steep increase in the price of cocoa imports, as well as coffee and fruits and nuts. On their side, cereal exports went down due to lower prices and volumes. The UK, Ukraine and Brazil remain the biggest sources of imported goods. Côte d’Ivoire, Ukraine and Nigeria saw the most significant increases in exports to the EU. Imports from Russia (-€865 million, -46%) and Australia (-€722 million, -28%) declined.
April 8, 2025/ European Commission/ European Union.
https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu
