Agriculture

and Rural

Development

Sep

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Contents

January - September

2020: EU27 Agri-food

trade growth on a rise

EU27 EXPORTS

EU27 IMPORTS TABLES

EU27 does not include the

United Kingdom which left the EU on 31/01/2020. Trade with the

UK is reported as trade with a third

country in this publication, for the

current period and the reference

periods, although single market

conditions still applied to the UK.

UK trade data August may be

under-estimated at the time of

reporting and official statistics

August may be corrected at later stage.

Data source: Eurostat COMEXT

Extraction date for statistics:

21/12/2020

Editorial: Agri-A1@ec.europa.eu

Unit A.1, Directorate-General for

Agriculture and Rural Development

https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-

farming-fisheries/trade/trade-and-

international-policy-analysis

MONITORING EU AGRI-FOOD TRADE:

DEVELOPMENTS JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 2020

JANUARY - SEPTEMBER 2020: EU27 AGRI-FOOD TRADE ON A RISE

During the first nine months of 2020, EU27 agri-food trade (exports plus imports)

reached a value of EUR 226.3 billion; i.e. 1% more than in January-September

2019. EU27 exports increased by 1.1% compared to the corresponding period in

2019, reaching EUR 134.7 billion. EU27 imports attained EUR 91.5 billion,

nearly 1% higher than the same nine months period in 2019. In regard to the

developments from the previous month, in September the monthly values of EU27

exports increased by 16% after a considerable fall in August (-12%). The monthly value of EU imports also reported a major increase (+11%) after having embarked

on a downward trend since last April (-10% in August and -2% in July).

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Sep

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2019

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Jan.

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EU27: Trade of Agri-food products (million Euro)

TRADE BALANCE EXPORT IMPORTSource: Comext

EU27 Agri-Food Trade: January - September 2020

2

EU27 EXPORTS: CHINA AND SOME NEIGHBOUR-

HOOD COUNTRIES STILL WITH HIGHEST INCREASES

On a year over year basis, the highest increases in

export values (January-August 2020 compared to

January-August 2019) continued to be recorded in

trade with China (EUR +3 042 million, +31%).

This has been driven by an more than double

increase in EU27 export values of pig meat, despite

the African Swine Fever cases in some EU Member

States. Other products with highest gains in export

values continued to be wheat (+ EUR 367 million

representing 26% of the EU27 overall increase of

its exports), and infant food (+14%).

Saudi Arabia (+588, +23%) came second with EU

exports going back to its high level in 2018,

boosted particularly by increased trade in barley,

certain dairy products, cigars and cigarettes, and

live animals.

Other top destinations, for which the value of EU27

agri-food exports have increased most since

January 2020 (EUR million), remained to be

reported for Morocco (+407, +33%) and Algeria

(+343, +19%) - in both cases driven by increased

exports of cereals (principally wheat) and, to some

extent, of some dairy products (Algeria –milk and

cream, Morocco - cheese and curd, butter and

other fats). EU27 exports continued to increase

significantly as well to Switzerland (+496, +8%,

comprising a wide range of agri-food products).

For the first nine months of 2020, the EU27

continued to record major export gains to Ukraine

(+332, +19%), Norway (+240, +7%) and Nigeria

(+214, +31% - wheat).

On the other hand, for the period January-

September 2020, the EU27 export values continued

to fall most to the United States (-814, -5%). The

overall reduction was primarily driven by a

significant fall in EU27 exports of spirits (-20%),

and wine (-15%); each of them accounting for

more than 30% of the EU27 overall decrease in agri-food exports to the US.

Other destinations, for which the value of EU27

agri-food exports has decreased most since

January 2020 compared to the same period last

year, included Singapore (-329, -22%) and Hong

Kong (-327, -16%) - in both cases, this was driven

by reduced sales of wine and spirits. EU agri-food

exports continued to fall significantly to Lebanon

(-311, -43%), Japan (-282, -5%) and the United

Kingdom (-232, -1%).

In regard to the United Kingdom, while for the

period January to September 2020, the EU27

export values continued to decline in comparison to

the period January to September 2019, in

September the monthly value of EU exports

displayed a high increase of 14% compared to the

previous month (-8% in August, 2% in July).

Product categories that reported highest losses

included wine (-10%), poultry meat (-12%), and

butter (-36%). On the other hand, increased

exports were recorded for pasta and pastry (+7%),

and wheat (+118%).

The most important EU27 export destinations in

the first nine months of 2020 were the UK, the

USA, China, Switzerland and Japan. More than

52% of EU agri-food exports went to these five

countries.

SUSTAINED GROWTH OF EU27 EXPORTS OF WHEAT

AND PIGMEAT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2020

Looking at product categories, the increase in

export values (January to September 2020

compared to January to September 2019, EUR

million) was driven by continued exceptionally high

exports of pig meat (+2 120, +41% - principally

to China with a clear shift in EU origin depending

on sanitary trade restrictions); wheat (+1 422,

+36%) and pet food (+393, +10%). Other

product categories that displayed solid growth

rates include pasta and pastry (+369, +6%),

rapeseed and sunflower oils (+349, +17%), coarse

grains (+347, +21%), infant food (+295, +11%),

cigars and cigarettes (+290, +9%).

On the other hand, significant reductions in EU

exports in value terms are to be noted in sectors

most affected by lockdowns and economic crises

induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Biggest losses

continued to be reported in sales of spirits and

liqueurs (-1442, -23%), wine (-1412, -13%),

raw hides and skins (-651, -57%), cotton (-315,

-34%), chocolate and confectionary (-251, -4%).

The top EU agri-food export products in the period

January-September 2020 included wine, pig meat, infant food, pasta and pastry, as well as chocolate

and confectionary. These products accounted for

more than 26% of EU27 total agri-food exports.

EU27 Agri-Food Trade: January - September 2020

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EU27 IMPORTS: CONTINUED MAJOR FALLS OF

IMPORTS FROM THE UK AND US

During the first nine months of 2020, the value of

EU27 agri-food imports has increased by nearly 1%

(compared to January to September 2019). Strong

rise of rapeseeds and wheat imports in value has

put Canada (+687, +53%) as top origin with the

biggest increase in absolute terms. Brazil (+659,

+8%) came second with sustained high imports of

soya beans (+62%), while soya imports from the

US went down. Increase in purchases of palm oil

further boosted imports from Indonesia (+659,

+8%) and Malaysia (+445, +34%). Other origins

for which the value of EU27 agri-food imports

increased most included Turkey (+530, +18%

- nuts and citrus fruit, preparations of vegetables

and fruit), Cote d’Ivoire (+251, +10% -cocoa

beans), Russian Federation (+193, +19% - sun-

flower seeds, oilcakes), and South Africa (+158,

+10% - citrus and other fruit).

For the period January to September 2020, the

value of monthly imports from the United

Kingdom continued to fall most (-1 138, -9%)

compared to the same period in 2019. While

decreasing imports from the UK have affected the

majority of agri-food products, the highest loss in

value was reported for spirits and liqueurs (-21%),

accounting for 77% of the decrease in extra-EU

imports of spirits and liqueurs. Other countries, for

which EU27 imports decreased most in value

terms, included Ukraine (-718, -14% -maize); and

the United States (-540, -7% -soya beans and

oilcakes). Significant falls in agri-food imports

remained to be reported for India (-258, -12% -

other feed and feed ingredients, oilcakes);

Australia (-192, -16% - oilseeds and wool) and

Singapore (-148, -43% - malt extracts).

The top EU agri-food origins in the nine months

period include the UK, Brazil, USA, Ukraine and

China. These countries have accounted for almost

38% of EU27 agri-food imports in value terms.

EU27 IMPORTS: FALLING IMPORTS OF COARSE

GRAINS, OILCAKES AND SPIRITS

Looking at product categories, since the beginning

of 2020, the highest increases in import values

were reported for fresh and dried tropical fruit

(+704, +8%), fatty acids and waxes (+583,

+32%), palm and palm kernel oil (+553,

+15%), fruit fresh and dried (+488, +12%), and

oilseeds other than soya beans - mainly rapeseed

and sunflower seeds (+438, +15%).

On the other hand, imports of coarse grains

(-994, -30%), oilcakes (-523, -10%), spirits and

liqueurs (-430, -17%), wool and silk (-271,

-38%), bovine meat (-271, -18%) have continued

to decrease most in value terms. Furthermore,

EU27 import values of raw tobacco (-11%), meat

preparations (-16%), and infant food (-15%)

remained on a downward trend.

The top EU agri-food import products in the first

nine months of 2020 included fruit (tropical and

other than citrus), unroasted coffee and tea,

oilcakes, palm and palm kernel oil. These products

accounted for nearly 32% of EU27 agri-food

imports.

EXPANDING SURPLUS IN EU27 AGRI-FOOD TRADE

As a result, the agri-food trade surplus during the

period January to September 2020 stood at EUR

43.2 billion, an increase by 1.5% compared to the

corresponding period in 2019, despite the Covid-19

crisis. This net trade balance remained boosted by

exceptionally strong exports of pig meat (with

very different developments in individual Member

States) and wheat. It also mitigated the negative

impact of decreasing exports of important product

categories such as wine, spirits, raw hides and

skins.

EU27 Agri-Food Trade: January - September 2020

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TABLE 1: EU27 AGRI-FOOD EXPORTS – MOST IMPORTANT CHANGES PER PARTNER COUNTRIES

TABLE 2: EU27 AGRI-FOOD EXPORTS – TOP 20 DESTINATIONS

EU27 Agri-Food Trade: January - September 2020

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TABLE 3: EU27 AGRI-FOOD EXPORTS – MOST IMPORTANT CHANGES PER PRODUCT CATEGORIES

TABLE 4: EU27 AGRI-FOOD EXPORTS – TOP 20 PRODUCT CATEGORIES

EU27 Agri-Food Trade: January - September 2020

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TABLE 5: EU27 AGRI-FOOD IMPORTS – MOST IMPORTANT CHANGES PER PARTNER COUNTRIES

TABLE 6: EU27 AGRI-FOOD IMPORTS – TOP 20 ORIGINS

EU27 Agri-Food Trade: January - September 2020

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TABLE 7: EU27 AGRI-FOOD IMPORTS – MOST IMPORTANT CHANGES PER PRODUCT CATEGORIES

TABLE 8: EU27 AGRI-FOOD IMPORTS – TOP 20 PRODUCT CATEGORIES

EU27 Agri-Food Trade: January - September 2020

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EU27 AGRI-FOOD TRADE BALANCE (EXPORTS – IMPORTS) BY PRODUCT CATEGORY