No. 02-07 July 2007
Monitoring Agri-trade Policy
MAP
European Commission
Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development
The Changing Face of EU Agricultural Trade
CONTENTS Editorial
EU becomes the leading exporter ... ... and a net exporter in 2006 Trade has also evolved for others The impact of EU enlargement EU specialises in final products EU imports under the microscope EU imports from developing countries A closer look at EU exports... EU's net agricultural surplus in 2006 Changes in EU trade with key partners
Introduction
T
his MAP takes a look behind the headline figures and recent developments in EU trade. In recent years we have seen significant changes in trade patterns, turning received wisdom on its head. These changes have been addressed in previous editions of the MAP. In summary, they involve the growth in trade, the emergence of the EU as the largest exporter of agricultural products, the declining trade surplus of the US, and the consolidation of the position of Brazil as the undisputed third largest, rapidly growing exporter. In the present issue of the MAP we examine the EU's changing face of agricultural trade, using different data sources and, although such comparisons, with different product coverage, must always be treated with caution, some conclusions can nevertheless be drawn. Firstly the EU is apparently set on a continuous path of growth in agricultural exports. As a result, in 2003 the EU overtook the US as the leading agricultural exporter. The second development is even more recent and indicates that the EU's agricultural trade balance has improved significantly with export growth outstripping that of imports, so that by 2006 it had turned into a net exporter of agricultural products. The improvement for the EU is all the more surprising as it comes despite the strengthening of the euro and despite enlargement, which increased net agricultural imports. Finally, the growth in EU agricultural exports is mainly in final products. This is partly because of the improved competitiveness of the food industry in quality products, a trend enhanced by the shifts in EU production due to CAP reform. It is telling that nearly all of the top EU exports are high value final products, whose very success in the export market depends upon their EU origin and characteristics.

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