EU exports grow in value with China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United States

Agri-food exports from the European Union (EU) increased by 6% in value in 2015 to 129,000 million euros compared to the previous year, which marked a new record, according to data released by the European Commission (EC). Europe wins 39% more thanks to China, up 34% from Saudi Arabia, 20% more to Turkey and 18% from the United States. The value of imports remained stable.

Russia dropped to the second position in the ranking to fourth, and now replaced China, from 9,000 million euros in 2014 to 5,600 million in 2015, down 36% because of the veto imposed by Moscow on these products Europeans in response to economic sanctions imposed by the Union for the Russian intervention in eastern Ukraine, according to EC statistics. Also up those sent to Switzerland, US, Egypt, Australia, Canada and South Korea Arab Emirates, according to Efeagro.

By category, rose above all the value of exports of cereals excluding wheat (up 68% to 1,200million euros, wine (835 million euros, up 9%) and liqueurs and spirits ( 641 million, up 7%) and hides and skins (526 million to 23%), live animals (486 million, up 25%) and beer, water and soft drinks.

On the opposite side, dropped the value of exports of milk powder (-843 000 000, down 17%), fresh fruit (-341 000 000, down 12%) and cheese (-120 million, down 3% ). These decreases were due to the Russian embargo and the collapse of demand in China.

As regards agricultural imports into the EU from third countries in 2015, its value amounted to 113,000 million euros, 8.7% more than in the previous year.
By origin, from Brazil (traditionally the first provider EU) remained stable while the US (the second), showed the largest increase, by 16% to 1,600 million euros.

There were also increases in imports from Turkey (862 million, up 21%), China (489 million, + 10%), Argentina (466 million, up 9%), Vietnam (377 million, 20% more) and Colombia (360 million, up 21%).

Instead, they fell imports from Indonesia (189 million euros, down 4%) and Canada (42 million, down 2%).

The total value of imports of goods remained stable but, in particular, those of cereals (excluding wheat) fell by 517 million, up 18%, and the import of linseed cake (-341 000 000, down 4% ), sugar beet and sugar cane (-334 000 000, down 21%), soybean (283m, 5% less) and palm oil (-272 000 000, down 5%).

Imports of unroasted coffee and tea (1,100 million, up 15%), as well as wheat and soybean oil are not increased.

Source: Efeagro