EU agri-food exports fall by 6% until February

In the early months of 2021, the European Union's agri-food trade dynamics experienced a notable shift, with export and import values showing significant decreases compared to the previous year. The period from January and February 2021 saw a decrease in export values by 6% to 28.5 billion euros, and a more pronounced drop in import values by 12.5% to 18.2 billion euros. This resulted in an agri-food trade surplus of 10.3 billion euros, marking an 8% increase from the same period in 2020.

The withdrawal of the UK from the EU had a substantial impact, leading to a decrease in both export and import values to the UK. Additionally, there were declines in trade values with the US, Russia, Japan, Indonesia, and Ukraine, while trade with China, Nigeria, Norway, and Chile saw an increase in export values.

There was a general decrease in the value of most EU agri-food exports, particularly in wheat, baby food, spirits, and vegetable and fruit preparations. However, there was a growth in the export values of pig meat, rapeseed and sunflower oils, pet food, soups and sauces, and oilseed cakes. Import values experienced the greatest decreases in tropical fruits, spirits, and palm oil, while there were notable increases in oil cake and soybean imports.