The European Union’s annual value of agri-food exports again hit a record high, reaching 130.7 billion euros in 2016, up 1.7 billion from the previous year, according to the Agriculture Committee.
The biggest increases in exports last year were to the United States (+1.26 billion euros) and China (+1.060 million euros).
On the other hand, the value of EU agri-food imports fell by 1.5% to 112 billion euros, which means an increase in the Community’s agri-food trade surplus of 18.8 billion euros, compared to 2015’s 15.3 billion.
The agri-food sector represented 7.5% of total exports of EU goods in 2016, while 6.6% of all imported goods were also agri-food products.
With a surplus of 18.8 billion euros, the agri-food sector also contributes significantly to the total European Union surplus in goods trade, which was 39.3 billion euros in 2016.
Throughout the past year, community producers increased exports of primary products other than commodities (pork, vegetables). Likewise, export values ??for processed agricultural products (wine, olive oil) and food increased on average by 4 to 5%, while export values ??for commodities (wheat and other cereals, milk powder) and non-edible products declined.
This month’s report focuses on agri-food trade with Canada. The EU is a net exporter of agri-food products to Canada, with a surplus of about 1,250 million euros in 2016.
The EU’s main exports to the United States are processed products with added value, food preparations and beverages, being wine, liquor and spirits, confectionery, beer and cakes and biscuits the most important product categories.