In 2022, the value of trade (imports plus exports) of agricultural products between the EU and the rest of the world reached €424.7 billion, €77.5 billion more than in 2021 (€347.2 billion). The EU exported €229.1 billion worth of agricultural products and imported €195.6 billion, generating a surplus of €33.5 billion.

Between 2002 and 2022, EU trade in agricultural products close to tripled (from €141.5 billion to €424.7 billion), equivalent to an average annual growth of almost 5.6%. In this period, exports grew faster (5.9%) than imports (5.4%).

Bar chart/line graph: EU trade in agricultural products, € billion, 2002-2022

Source dataset: DS-045409

UK and Brazil: biggest export and import partners

In terms of export partners, the United Kingdom was the main partner with a 21% share of extra-EU exports of agricultural products (equivalent to €47.8 billion), followed by the United States (13%; €29.0 billion), China (7%; €15.2 billion), Switzerland (5%; €11.5 billion), Japan (4%; €8.3 billion) and Russia (3%; €7.0 billion).

Extra-EU imports originated mostly from Brazil (10%; €19.9 billion), the United Kingdom (8%; €16.4 billion), Ukraine (7%; €13.1 billion), the United States (6%; €12.3 billion), China (almost 6%; €10.8 billion) and Norway (5%; €9.3 billion).

Infographic: EU exports and imports of agricultural products by main partner, shares and € billion, 2022

Source dataset: DS-045409

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Methodological notes

  • In this news article, agricultural products relate to four major groups: animal products (HS chapters 1-5), vegetable products (HS chapters 6-14), animal or vegetable oils, fats and related products (HS chapter 15) and foodstuffs (HS chapters 16-24).
  • As of January 2021 onwards, data on trade with the United Kingdom is based on a mixed concept. In application of the Withdrawal Agreement Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland, for trade with Northern Ireland the statistical concepts applicable are the same as those for trade between Member States while for trade with the United Kingdom (excluding Northern Ireland) the same statistical concepts are applicable as for trade with any other extra-EU partner country. For these reasons, data on trade with the United Kingdom are not fully comparable with data on trade with other extra-EU trade partners, and for reference periods before and after the end of 2020.

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