Source: Pig333.com, 6 April 2021, photo credit: Pixabay/Egypt Today
Over the course of 2020, the value of EU agri-food exports increased to €184.3 billion (a growth of 1.4% compared to 2019), while the value of imports rose to €122.2 billion (a growth of 0.5%). The resulting balance of trade for 2020 stood at a surplus of €62 billion, an increase of 3% compared to 2019.
China, Switzerland and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region were the major growth destinations for EU agri-food exports in 2020. In the case of China, the value of exports rose by €3.22 billion compared to 2019, driven by pig meat, wheat, and infant food. The value of EU exports fell in relation to the USA (by €392 million, with spirits and wine the main products affected), Turkey (down by €360 million) and Singapore (a decrease of €346 million).
Despite the impact of Brexit, EU exports to the UK increased by €467 million compared to 2019, with wheat, pasta and pastry amongst the leading products. However, the value of EU imports from the UK dropped by €1.2 billion, with spirits and liqueurs hit in particular. Canada grew significantly as a source of EU agri-food imports in 2020, with rapeseed and durum wheat propelling a rise of €1.05 billion in import values compared to 2019.
In terms of product categories, exports of pig meat grew by €2.12 billion compared to 2019, while the value of wheat exports increased by €1.70 billion. Other product categories to perform strongly in 2020 were pet food (up by €557 million), rapeseed and sunflower oil (up €467 million) and pasta and pastry (up €391 million).
As regards imports, values decreased for the EU’s intake of coarse grains (down by €1.22 million), spirits and liqueurs (a fall of €493 million), and oilcakes (a drop of €441 million). On the other hand, increases were recorded in the import values of palm and palm kernel oil (up by €719 million), fatty acids and waxes (up €689 million), rapeseed and sunflower seeds (up €602 million), and fresh and dried fruit (up by €491 million).
5 April 2021/ EC/ European Union.
https://ec.europa.eu/commission
The South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO) coordinates industry interventions and collaboratively manages risks in the value chain to enable the sustainability and profitability of pork producers in South Africa.
