The export of agri-food products from the European Union increased in the first half of 2021. This is mainly due to increased sales to the United States. This is according to European Commission figures. Trade with the United Kingdom declined in all respects.
Exports of agri-food products from 27 member states to countries outside the European Union amounted to €95.3 billion in the January-June period. This is about 6 percent more than in the first half of 2020, while imports fell 1 percent to 61.8 billion euros.
Exports to the US were the strongest increase in the first half of the year compared to 2020. This was a growth of 1.657 million euros, or 16 percent. This was due to the increase in wine, spirits and ready-made vegetables. China was the second largest climber (36%). This was partly due to the export of pork, coarse grains, and wine.
Moreover, exports increased to Switzerland (€414 million, +9 percent), Norway (€383 million, +16 percent), Israel (204 million, +19 percent) and Canada (200 million, +12 percent). ).
Decline in exports to the British
Europe did less business with laundry for the UK. The value of exports decreased by 446 million euros, or a contraction of 2%. Tobacco and pork were the hardest hit. It should be noted that British exports gradually recovered during the first half of the year after a modest start.
Other countries that bought less European products were Saudi Arabia (€341 million less, -16 percent), mainly driven by reduced purchases of wheat and infant feeding, Algeria (107 million, -7 percent) by lower purchases of milk and cream, South Africa (-98 million euros, -12 percent) and Kuwait (-89 million euros, -23 percent).
Fewer imports into EU member states
Imports of agricultural food products from third countries decreased. This was due to a decrease in imports from the United Kingdom. The drop of 2.141 million, or 30 per cent, is mainly due to the fact that the British brought less tropical fruits, nuts, wine, vermouth, cider, vinegar, vegetables, animal feed and beef to Europe.
Imports from the United States also declined (-522 million euros, -10 percent). The main reason behind this was the decrease in shipments of tropical fruits, nuts and spices. European imports of US soybeans increased strongly (+293 million euros, +43 percent). Europe also imported fewer products from Ukraine (€-285 million, -9 percent, corn, rapeseed) and Vietnam (€-165 million, -14 percent, coffee).
The main sources of EU agri-food imports were Brazil, the United Kingdom, the United States, Ukraine and China. They represented 34% of the import value of the total over six months. The largest increases in the value of imports for the first semester are Brazil (€614 million, +11 per cent) driven by soybean and soybean oil cakes, India (€324 million, +26 per cent), also driven by soybean oil cakes and Australia ( +320 million euros, +40 per cent) due to rapeseed.
