EU agri-food trade surplus remains at record level in May 2018, imports of tropicals rise

The EU’s agri-food trade in May 2018 remained little changed from April 2018, at €11.2 billion in exports and EUR 10.0 billion in imports. Although export value was 5.7% lower than the record level for the month of May, recorded in 2017, it was well above 2015 and 2016 levels. However, monthly import value was 8.4% lower than in May 2017. This keeps the monthly agri-food trade surplus at  €1.2 billion – a 23% increase over May 2017.

The highest increases in monthly export values (May 2018 compared to May 2017) were recorded for Morocco (+€36 million), Russia (+€25 million), South Africa (+€22 million) and Algeria (+€20 million), while exports fell most to China (-€196 million) and the US (-€180 million).

Compared to May 2017, the value of EU agri-food imports in May 2018 increased most for shipments from Chile (+€74 million), Morocco (+€67 million), Tunisia (+€42 million) and Egypt (+€39 million). The sharpest drops in imports were recorded for shipments of agri-food products from Ukraine (-€135 million), Indonesia (-€134 million), Argentina (-€101 million), Australia (-€96 million) and India (-€90 million). Imports of tropical fruit saw a significant increase (+€183 million).