The EU agri-food trade surplus continues to increase during January-February 2021

In the early months of 2021, the European Union's agri-food trade dynamics experienced notable shifts, with export and import values decreasing across various regions and product categories. The period saw a decrease in both export and import values compared to the previous year, attributed to Brexit's impact and changes in trade with the United States, Russia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Ukraine. Despite these declines, there was an 8% increase in the agri-food trade surplus to 10.3 billion euros, driven by increased exports to China, Nigeria, Norway, and Chile, alongside rising import values from India, Canada, Serbia, and Nigeria. Within the EU, there were mixed trends, with decreases in exports of wheat, baby food, and spirits, but increases in pig meat, rapeseed and sunflower oils, pet food, soups, sauces, and oilseed cakes. Overall, the early 2021 data highlight the complex adjustments in global agri-food trade, with both challenges and opportunities for the EU in the post-Brexit and post-pandemic economic landscape.