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During the first three months of 2020, the EU27 agri-food trade (exports plus imports) reached a value of EUR 78.6 billion; 4.7% more than in January-March 2019, despite the COVID-19 pandemic developing. The current growth was driven by a boost in agri-food exports which increased by 6.2% compared to the corresponding period in 2019, reaching EUR 46.8 billion.
Export value
High increases in export values to China were recorded for pig meat in quarter 1 (+240% compared January-March 2019) and offal meat was up (+47%).
Other top destinations, for which the value of EU27 agri-food exports increased most, include Saudi Arabia (+312, +38%), Morocco (+240, +47%) - in both cases this was driven by high exports of barley and wheat.
Looking at product categories, the increase in export values (January-March 2020 compared to January-March 2019) was driven in particular by continued strong export growth of wheat (+979, +71%), pig meat (+901, +58%), coarse grains (+354, +57%), infant food (+177, +9%) and offal meat (+139, +19%).
Import value
In regard to EU27 agri-food imports, their value during January-March 2020 compared to January-March 2019 increased most from Canada (+366, +101%). This growth was driven by very high imports of rapeseed, soya beans and rapeseed oil.
The value of monthly imports continued to fall most from the United Kingdom. UK imports of coarse grains fell -46%. Other countries for which EU27 imports fell most include Ukraine (-230, -12%, decline driven by smaller imports of corn and wheat), USA (-123, -4% –in particular lower imports of soya beans by 30%) and oilcakes (-74%)); Australia (-95, -19% - oilseeds, wool) and India (-58, -8% other feed and feed ingredients, oilcakes).
July 3, 2020/ Euopean Commission/ European Union.
https://ec.europa.eu/
