EU-27 consistent world leader in trade of food and drink - Issue number 78/2009 - Products Statistics in Focus

Brazil and Argentina become two leading sources of food and drink imports to EU-27

The European Union is by far the major world player in both imports and exports of food and drink. Food and drink made up 5.2% of both imports and exports for the EU-27 in 2008. The value of EU-27 food and drink exports rose by 10.2% between 2007 and 2008, compared to a rise in imports of 6.1% over the same period. The United States was the most important trading partner for EU-27 exports in 2008. Together, the United States and Russia accounted for just over a quarter of EU-27 exports. For EU-27 imports, however, Brazil and Argentina were the main trading partners, accounting together for just over a fifth of EU-27 imports in 2008. France remained the largest contributor to EU-27 food and drink exports, with around one fifth of the total extra EU-27 trade. However, the greatest growth in exports between 2000 and 2008 was registered by Estonia, Romania, Lithuania and especially by Latvia, with a growth of almost 35% per year on average.