May 27, 2016

EU agri-food exports up in March; pork posts highest increase

EU agri-food exports to third countries (or countries outside of the 28-nation bloc) in March 2016 were valued at €11.3 billion, about €1 billion higher than in the previous month, the latest monthly report on agri-food trade showed.

Pork posted the highest increase at 32.5% from €318 million in March 2015 to €422 million, followed by oilseeds (other than soya beans), some food preparations and wine.

Agri-food exports to China showed the highest increase at 11.8%, compared with March 2015. For the 12-month period April 2015 to March 2016, exports to China increased to €10.7 billion—or €2.6 billion or 33% higher than in the same period a year before.

Exports to Ukraine, Jordan, Russia and Cambodia in March 2016 also increased. Reduced export values

were recorded for Hong Kong, Thailand and some Middle East and North African countries (Egypt, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Libya).

For the 12-month period (April 2015 – March 2016), EU agri-food exports reached a value of almost EUR129 billion, or an increase of 4% compared with the same period a year before.