EU agri-food trade grows, maintaining surplus

Exports

EU agri-food exports reached €20.1 billion in April 2025. This is a 4% drop from March but still 2% above the same month last year. Between January and April, cumulative exports rose by 3% year-on-year, reaching €79.7 billion.

The UK was the strongest growth market between January and April, with exports up €778 million (+4%), mainly due to higher cocoa product prices. The US followed with an increase of €686 million (+7%), despite exports dropping back in April. Exports to Switzerland rose by €467 million (+11%), also led by cocoa-based products.

In contrast, exports to China fell by €510 million (-11%), due to a sharp drop in cereal exports.

Cocoa and coffee prices continued to prop up overall export values. Exports of coffee, tea, cocoa and spices grew by €1.3 billion (+43%), driven by a doubling of cocoa paste, butter and powder prices, and a 28% rise in coffee prices. Chocolate and confectionery exports also surged (+€708 million, +21%), with chocolate prices up 31%. Dairy exports increased in value by €421 million (+7%), despite a 2% drop in volume.

Cereal exports, however, declined by €1.2 billion in value (-24%) as volumes fell by 34%. Olive and olive oil exports dropped by €350 million (-14%) due to falling prices, despite an increase in volume.

Imports

On the import side, cumulative agri-food imports reached €64.4 billion between January and April; up 17% (€9.2 billion) compared to 2024. Imports in April reached €16.2 billion, 8% higher than a year earlier, despite a 4% reduction compared to the previous month.

US imports rose 17%, though they levelled off in April. The largest increases came from Côte d’Ivoire (+€1.4 billion, +71%, mainly due to higher cocoa prices), China (+€806 million, +29%, across different categories) and Canada (+€722 million, +90%, mainly due to higher cereals and oilseeds imports).  Imports from Australia almost doubled (+95%), mainly due to higher rapeseed imports.

Coffee and cocoa led the rise in import value, with a category growth of €5.4 billion (+63%). Prices remain the key driver, with cocoa prices doubling and coffee up 67%. By contrast, imports of olives and olive oil, as well as sugar and isoglucose, both dropped by 39%.