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EU-15 MAIN MARKETS for Selected Products - 2005

The purpose of this text is to highlight the most important trading destinations and origins for the EU-15 for the year 2005. We are thus looking at which partner the EU-15 exports to and imports from –in value and quantity terms- for 20 selected aggregated products (which -all together- do not cover the WTO- definition of “All Agricultural Products”).

Cereals total:

Expressed in values, out of a total import of € Mio 1.439 nearly 22% is being imported from the USA alone (€ Mio 314) making it the largest import origin for the EU-15 in 2005. The 6 main countries of origin for import, combined, added up to 82,5% of all EU-15 imports. On the export side the partners were far more diverse. The 6 main exporting destinations reached a combined share of over 45,1%. From a total of € Mio 2.495 that was exported out of the EU-15, Algeria remained, as in 2004, the most important destination, with € Mio 390 or a share of around 16%.

In quantity, out of a total EU-15 import of 10.625.000 tons, 2.295.000 tons (or 21,6%) were imported from Ukraine, whereas Algeria absorbed 3.060.000 tons (or 16,4%) on the export side with a total EU-15 exports of cereals of 18.605.000 tons.  5 out of 6 main export destinations were situated in the North-African / Middle East regions. The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding cereals was positive with an EU-15 surplus of almost 8.000.000 tons.

Rice:

India was the main importing source -in values- for the EU-15 and represented, on its own, € Mio 116 (or 29,2%) of all imports which were in total € Mio 397,2. The 6 main origins combined reached a share of over 94% of all EU-15 rice imports in values for the year 2005.

For rice, as is the case with cereals, exports are more diversified among partners than imports. The 6 main destinations for the EU-15 added up to a total of € Mio 93,7 of rice exports (58,1%). The main destination for EU-15 exports was Turkey with € Mio 22,5 (or 24%).

In quantity the EU-15 imports totalled 1.084.000 tons or over 5 times its own export. As opposed to import values where India was the main origin, in quantity the USA were the main origin of imports with 289.000 tons (a share of 26,7%). In 2005, EU-15 exports of rice reached a total of 197.000 tons of which the main destination was Turkey that absorbed 48.000 tons (or 24.5%) followed by Switzerland with 22.000 tons. The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding rice was negative with an EU-15 deficit of 887.000 tons.

Animal Feed:

Animal feed was the most imported (aggregated) product for the EU-15 in 2005. Total imports, when expressed in values, reached € Bio 10,4, with Brazil having the largest share of 37,9% or around € Bio 3,9. The 6 main origins combined reached, in value terms, 84,8% of total EU-15 imports.

EU-15 exported a total of € Bio 1,8, with Algeria (€ Mio 267) and Saudi Arabia (€ Mio 228) as the most important destinations.

In quantity, total EU-15 import reached 55,2 Mio tons against around 13,9 Mio tons for EU-15 export. Most important origins for EU-15 imported animal feed were situated in the South American region. Brazil exported 17,9 Mio tons into the EU-15, or 32,5% of all EU-15 imports. Argentina was the second largest feed exporter to the EU-15 with 14,3 Mio tons followed by the USA with 8,2 Mio tons.

Algeria was the most important export destination for the EU-15, with 2.312.000 tons (or 16,6%) out of a total EU-15 export of animal feed of 13.949.000 tons. The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding animal feed was negative with an EU-15 deficit of 41,3 Mio tons.

Vegetables:

The EU-15 imported € Mio 1.243 of vegetables in 2005.  € Mio 370 (or 29,7%) were imported from Morocco and € Mio 146,5 from Kenya. Exports stood at a total of € Mio 769 with Switzerland as the most important export destination (€ Mio 183 or 23,9%).

In quantity, 1.095.000 tons of vegetables were imported, 379.000 tons (or 34,6%) from Morocco and 93.000 tons from Turkey. The first export destination for vegetables was Russia, with 293.000 tons (or 25,8%) out of a total of 1.136.000 tons. The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding Vegetables was positive with an EU-15 surplus of 41.000 tons.

Fruits:

In values the EU-15 imported in 2005 over 5 times more fruit than it exported. Total EU-15 imports reached a level of € Mio 7.059 with the USA as our main importing partner (€ Mio 1.241 or 17,6%) and South Africa as second country of origin with € Mio 943. EU-15 exports totalled € Mio 1.329 of which € Mio 327 was destined to Russia (or 24,6%) and  € Mio 296 to Switzerland.

When expressed in quantity the EU-15 imported nearly 4 times as much fruits as that it exported.  6,2 bio tons of fruits were imported against 1,7 bio tons of exports. The EU-15 fruits imports originated mainly from South Africa with 1.071.000 tons (or 17,3%) and from Argentina (699.000 tons).

The 6 main export destinations in 2005 for fruits represented 65,4% of all EU-15 exports of which 446.000 tons (or 25,7%) went to Russia and 261.000 tons to Switzerland. The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding fruits was negative with an EU-15 deficit of 4.439.000 tons.

Preparations of Fruits & Vegetables:

71,9% of all imports -in values- originated from the 6 main partners, with Turkey having the largest share (26,9%) reaching € Mio 507 out of total imports of € Mio 1.883.  China, as second country of origin, reached € Mio 451.

Exports totalled € Mio 1.198 with the USA (€ Mio 197 or 16,4%) as main destination.

In quantity 1.758.000 tons of fruits & vegetables preparations were imported, 546.000 tons (or 31%) from China and 511.000 tons from Turkey. Out of a total export of 1.417.000 tons, 195.000 tons (or 13,8%) were destined to the USA.  Exports were more split amongst partners (the 6 main countries of destinations reached a combined share of 43,3%) than imports, where the 6 main countries of origin reached 75,4% of all imports.

The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding preparations of fruits & vegetables was negative with an EU-15 deficit of 341.000 tons.

Potatoes:

The 6 main origins of EU-15 potatoes imports, out of which 4 were situated in the Mediterranean Area, accounted -in value terms- for nearly 100% of all EU-15 imports (total € Mio 165). Israel, with € Mio 85, accounted for 51,7% of all EU-15 imports, with Egypt being the second largest origin also with € Mio 63. In contrast, the 6 main export destinations however only reached 43,4% of all EU-15 potatoes exports, which added up to a total of € Mio 204. Main destination for potatoes was Algeria (€ Mio 26 or 12,9%).

Expressed in quantity Israel (232.000 tons or 45,1 %) also was the main origin of EU-15 potatoes imports which totalled 515.000 tons. EU-15 potatoes exports reached 893.000 tons, of which Russia took in 201.000 tons (or 22,5%) as main country of destination. The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding potatoes was positive with an EU-15 surplus of 378.000 tons.

Olive Oil:

In value terms, € Mio 512 of olive oil imports for EU-15 was recorded. The 6 main import origins –combined- reached 98,3% of total olive oil imports with Tunisia being the main country of origin with € Mio 257 (or 50,2%) for 2005.

€ Mio 1.175 worth of olive oil was exported of which € Mio 538 (or 45,8%) went to the USA.

Out of a total EU-15 import of 193.000 tons, 96.000 tons (or 49,9%) were imported from Tunisia. The 6 main countries of origin for olive oil reached 98,6% of all imports. The USA, as main destination, captured 152.000 tons (or 46,6%) of EU-15 olive oil exports (total 326.000 tons). The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding olive oil was positive with an EU-15 surplus of 133.000 tons.

Vegetable Oils & Fats:

On the value side € Mio 1.648 of imports of vegetable fats & oils were recorded, of which € Mio 337 (or 20,4%) came from Indonesia as largest origin country. Argentina and the Philippines exported respectively for € Mio 299 and € Mio 225 to the EU. The EU-15 exports are more spread among destinations as the main export market, the USA, only accounted for € Mio 67 (or 12,7%) out of a total exports of € Mio 530.

For the year 2005, in quantity, EU-15 imports reached 2.913.000 tons of which 656.000 tons (or 22,5%) were coming from Indonesia, 551.000 tons from Argentina and 445.000 tons from the Philippines. The main 6 origins of imports claimed 78,9% of all EU-15 imports expressed in tons. EU-15 exports for 2005 reached in total 749.000 tons with 118.000 tons for Tunisia (or 15,7%) followed by Algeria with 103.000 tons. The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding vegetable fats & oils was negative with an EU-15 deficit of 2.164.000 tons.

Butter & Butter Fats:

Historically the main origin of EU-15 butter & butter fats imports was New Zealand. This also was the case for the year 2005. Out of a total import -in values- of € Mio 135,  € Mio 124 or over 91% originated from New Zealand. Exports for a total of € Mio 608 were mainly destined to Russia (€ Mio 58 or 9,5%) and to Mexico (€ Mio 55).

In quantity around 75.000 tons out of total butter imports of 81.000 tons stemmed from New Zealand. EU-15 exports totalled 321.000 tons and went mainly to Mexico (31.000 tons or 9,7%), Russia (27.000 tons) and Saudi Arabia (26.000 tons). The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding butter & butter fats was positive with a EU-15 surplus of 240.000 tons.

Milk & Milk Products:

95% was the share of the 6 main origin countries for imports for milk & milk products -in value terms- which reached a total value of € Mio 32. Main partner on the import side for the EU-15 was Switzerland, with € Mio 17 (or 52,8%).  In 2005 the EU-15 exports represented almost 60 times the value of EU-15 imports. A total value of € Mio 1.869 was recorded as EU-15 exports. The main destination was Saudi Arabia with € Mio 178 (or 9,5%) and, as second destination, Algeria (€ Mio 151) and also to Nigeria that showed an amount of € Mio 137 of milk & milk products being imported from the EU-15.

Because milk & milk products is a mixed aggregate (meaning adding together kilograms of milk and kilograms of milk powder), information at quantity level should be read with caution. However, in quantities a total of 63.000 tons was imported, with as main origin Switzerland (46.000 tons or 72,9%). Total exports reached 1.280.000 tons of milk & milk products, of which 100.000 tons (or 7,8%) went to Saudi Arabia, as main destination, 82.000 tons to China and 75.000 tons to Russia. The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding milk & milk products was positive with an EU-15 surplus of 1.217.000 tons.

Skimmed Milk Powder:

The EU-15 imported a total of € Mio 9,1 of SMP from third countries. Just 35,4%, or € Mio 3,2 , was imported from the USA and € Mio 3,1 from Switzerland.  Exports of the same product reached over 30 times this amount and totalled € Mio 248. The main export destinations were Algeria with € Mio 25 (or 10%) and Indonesia with € Mio 24.

When expressed in quantities the USA were also the main origin of SMP imports in 2005. Out of a total EU-15 import of 5.000 tons, the USA obtained a share of 36,9% or the equivalent of 1.900 tons. EU-15 exports of SMP reached a total of 135.000 tons with Indonesia as main destination with 14.000 tons (or 10,1%). The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding SMP was positive with an EU-15 surplus of 130.000 tons.

Cheese & Curd:

The EU-15 imported a total of € Mio 421 of cheese and curd, of which € Mio 253 (or 60,1%) originated from Switzerland. EU-15 exports were mainly destined to the USA (€ Mio 526 or 28,8%) and to Russia (€ Mio 244). In 2005, exports totalled € Mio 1.828.

In quantity the EU-15 imported 101.000 tons of which 43.000 tons (or 42,1%) from Switzerland, 23.000 tons from New Zealand and 17.000 tons from Australia. EU-15 exports, with a total of 466.000 tons, were mainly destined to the USA (108.000 tons or 23,3%) and Russia (89.000 tons). The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding cheese & curd was positive with an EU-15 surplus of 364.000 tons.

Sugar:

For the year 2005 the main import origin was Mauritius with € Mio 301 (or 26,6% of a total of € Mio 1.131).   Main export destinations (total 2005 of € Mio 1.194) were Syria with € Mio 122 (or 10,2%) and Algeria with € Mio 115.

In quantity 2.158.000 tons of sugar were imported into the EU.   555.000 tons (or 25,7%) originated from Mauritius while 178.000 tons came from Fiji. In total 5.200.000 tons were exported of which, as main destination, 521.000 tons (or 10%) went to Syria and 504.000 tons to Israel. The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding sugar was positive with an EU-15 surplus of 3.042.000 tons.

Wine:

In value terms, the EU-15 exported almost twice as much wine as it imported in 2005. Imports reached an amount of € Mio 2.380 against € Mio 4.628 of exports. Most important origin of import was Australia of which € Mio 844 (or 35,5%) was imported. South Africa came as second origin with € Mio 427.   42,7% or € Mio 1.977 of all EU-15 wine exports were destined to the USA and € Mio 543 went to Switzerland.

The 6 main origins of import accounted for 92,9% of total imports in quantity (total of 11.385.000 Hl) with Australia being the main origin of import (3.011.000 Hl or 26,4%) followed by South Africa (2.258.000 Hl) and closely by Chile (2.163.000 Hl). Total exports reached 13.412.000 Hl of which 4.000.000 Hl (or 29,8%) was destined for the USA and 1.556.000 Hl for Switzerland. The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding wine was positive with a EU-15 surplus of 2.028.000 Hl.

Raw Tobacco:

For raw tobacco imports reached a value of € Mio 1.577 against exports of € Mio 498. The USA was the largest contributor to imports with € Mio 389 (or 24,7%), followed by Brazil with € Mio 348. The 6 main countries of origin accounted for –in value terms- a total of 68,7% of total imports.  Exports were mainly destined to Russia (€ Mio 85 or 17,1%) and to the USA € Mio 65.

Brazil was the main country of origin when looking at quantities imported for raw tobacco. Out of a total of 512.000 tons almost 136.000 tons (or 26,6%) came from Brazil which was followed, as second country of origin, by the USA (62.000 tons). EU-15 exported 41.000 tons (22,3%) to Russia out of a total of 182.000 tons. The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding raw tobacco was negative with an EU-15 deficit of 330.000 tons.

Beef Meat (incl. Live Animals but excl. offal):

95,4% of total imports -in values- originated from the 6 main importing partners. Imports stood at € Mio 1.454 for 2005 and main contributors were Brazil with € Mio 784 (or 53,9%) and Argentina with € Mio 388.   € Mio 151 (or 35,2%) of beef meat exports were destined to Russia out of a of total beef meat exports of € Mio 429. Second destination for export was Lebanon with € Mio 53 in 2005.

Brazil and Argentina were the largest contributors to EU-15 imports (total of 524.000 tons) with respectively 337.000 tons (64,4%) and 108.000 tons. Russia was the largest partner when regarding exports. It absorbed 107.000 tons (or 45,9%) of total beef meat exports (total of 234.000 tons), whereas Lebanon imported 27.000 tons. The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding beef meat was negative for the third year with an EU-15 deficit of 290.000 tons.

Pork (incl. Live Animals but excl. offal):

Norway contributed for € Mio 12 (or 31,7%) to all EU-15 imports (total € Mio 40) of pork for 2005. All 6 main countries of origin combined added up to 95% of all EU-15 imports, expressed in value terms. Exports stood at a much higher level and reached in total € Mio 2.431 of which € Mio 866 (or 35,6%) were destined for Japan, € Mio 327 to Russia and € Mio 242 to the USA.

In quantities, expressed in carcass weight, imports are hardly noticeable when compared to exports, as only 15.000 tons were imported, of which 6.100 tons (or 41%) came from Chile. Exports, however, reached a total of 1.309.000 tons and main destinations for 2005 were Japan (27,9%) where 364.000 tons were exported to and Russia with 303.000 tons. The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding pork was positive with an EU-15 surplus of 1.294.000 tons.

Poultry Meat (incl. Live Animals but excl. offal and salted Poultry Meat):

Poultry meat imports -in values- stood at € Mio 1.170 for 2005 with Brazil as the main contributor.  € Mio 720 (or 61,5%) of EU-15 poultry meat imports originated from Brazil. Thailand was the second country of origin with € Mio 305 and Chile came third with € Mio 44. Combined, the 6 main countries of origin accounted for 97,6% of total EU-15 poultry meat imports. Exports reached € Mio 823 of which € Mio 121(or 14,7%) went to Russia and € Mio 92 to Saudi Arabia.

In tons, expressed in carcass weight, 590.000 tons have been imported into the EU-15. Brazil as first origin reached 439.000 tons (or 74,3%). Exports totalled 836.000 tons of which Russia absorbed 228.000 tons (or 27,2%). The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding poultry meat was positive with an EU-15 surplus of 246.000 tons.

Sheep & Goat Meat (incl. Live Animals but excl. offal):

New Zealand, as the historically main country of origin for sheep & goat meat imports, obtained a share in EU-15 imports, in values, of 79,6% or € Mio 895 out of a total of € Mio 1.124 for the year 2005. Exports with a total of -only- € Mio 25 went to Switzerland (€ Mio 9,7 or 39,3%) as main destination.

Regarding quantities, expressed in carcass weight, the EU-15 imported 278.000 tons of which 218.000 tons (or 78,6%) came from New Zealand. Australia contributed 19.000 tons to EU-15 imports. Export reached a meagre 6.600 tons in total and 1.900 tons (or 28,4%) were destined to Lebanon and another 1.700 tons to Switzerland. The net position -in quantity- for the EU-15 regarding sheep & goat meat was negative with a EU-15 deficit of 271.000 tons.

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