The total value of EU agri-food trade – exports and imports – for January to August 2021 reached €210.5 billion, a 5.1% increase on the same period in 2020. This is reported by ProAgro Group with reference to Agriland.
Exports rose by 7% to €127.5 billion, while imports grew by 2.3% to €85 billion, giving a total agri-food trade surplus of €44 billion for the first eight months of the year.
This is an increase of 17% compared to the corresponding period in 2020.
Positive figures were reported in exports to the US, which grew by €2 billion or 15%, largely driven by strong performances from wine, spirits and liqueurs.
Additionally, exports to China rose by €812 million, while increases in values were also reported in exports to Switzerland, up €531 million; South Korea, up €464 million; Norway, up €393 million; and Israel, up €288 million.
Exports to the UK during this period were nearly at the same value as they were last year.
The highest decreases in import values, on the other hand, were seen in tropical fruit, nuts and spices (down €669m), fruit juices (down €194m), citrus fruits (down €159m), raw tobacco (down €158m), and rice (down €140m).
