EU agri-food trade increased in January – April 2021 compared to last year The highest decreases in import values continued to be reported for tropical fruit, nuts and spices (minus €557 m, -12%)

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January – April 2021: the value of EU agri-food exports surpasses the value of the same period in 2020. On a year over year basis, EU food exports increased in January – April 2021, while EU imports decreased. The resulting agri-food trade surplus’ value stood at €22.7 billion – an increase of 17% compared to the corresponding period in 2020.

From January to April 2021, the EU agri-food trade (exports plus imports) reached a value of €103.4 billion, i.e. 1.1% less than in January – April 2020. While EU exports increased by 1.7% compared to the same period in 2020, reaching €63 billion, EU imports attained €40.3 billion, still 5.1% less than in the first four months of 2020.

The monthly value for EU exports in April 2021 was 7.7% lower than March 2021 and 9.8% higher than April 2020. EU imports in value were also 2.5% lower in April 2021 than March 2021 but 3.7% higher than the value observed in April 2020.

On a year over year basis, for January-April 2021, EU agri-food export values fell most concerning those towards the United Kingdom (minus €806 million, -6%), when compared with the same period in 2020.

Looking at product categories over the first four months of 2021, the highest decreases in import values continued to be reported for tropical fruit, nuts and spices (minus €557 m, -12%), palm and palm kernel oil (minus €237 million, -12%). On the other hand, the EU imports value increased most for oilcake (plus €630 million, +32%), soya beans (plus €476 million, +27%), cut flowers and plants (plus €70 million, +17%). The top EU agri-food import products in the first four months of 2021 included fruit (tropical and other than citrus), oilcake, soybeans, unroasted coffee and tea. These products accounted for nearly 33% of EU agri-food imports.

During January-April 2021, the resulting agri-food trade surplus’ value stood at €22.7 billion, an increase of 17% compared to the period January-April 2020. This net trade balance continued to be driven by high exports of wine, spirits and liqueurs, pork meat, chocolate and confectionary, bulbs, roots and live plants.

Source: European Commission