EU Agri-food Exports Picking Up Again
After a slight decrease in October 2015, EU agri-food exports in November 2015 picked up again and achieved a value of €10.9 billion, thus exceeding the value of previous years for the same month by about €500 million. EU agri-food exports to third countries increased by 5.7% in value compared to the same period one year ago. Exports to the USA, China – now second export destination thus replacing Russia – Saudi Arabia, Turkey and South Korea particularly increased in the last 12 months.
The highest increases in monthly export values were witnessed for vegetables and citrus fruit as well as for wheat and for live animals. On the other hand, monthly export values went down in particular for wine and for spirits.
In November 2015 agri-food imports to the EU remained at €9.5 billion, the same level as in October 2015. Imports of tropical and other fruit, as well as cereals other than wheat, went up, while imports of oilcakes and citrus fruit went down. The trade balance for all EU agri-food products in November 2015 showed a surplus in exports of about €1.3 billion.
