EU Agri-food Trade Hits New Records in 2025

The European Union's agri-food sector had another record-breaking year in 2025, strengthening its global leadership in agricultural trade. The surplus is roughly four times higher than in 2002, and the EU continues to be a net exporter in most agri-food categories. Furthermore, the sector contributed 37% of the EU's overall trade surplus in 2025 underlining the sector's importance to the European economy.

Exports Reach Historic High

Agri-food exports climbed to EUR 238.4 billion in 2025, - a 1% increase compared to 2024 (+ EUR 2.8 billion). The EU maintained its position as the world's largest agri-food exporter. It also stands out as the only exporter among the global top five (EU, US, Brazil, China and Canada) to grow the overall value of exports over the year. This shows the resilience of EU agri-food exports despite a volatile trade context.

Exports were strong throughout the year, exceeding 2024 levels in every month except August and November. Overall export prices remain high, peaking in early 2025 before gradually easing. On average, export prices remained stable year-on-year.

The United Kingdom is still the leading destination for EU agri-food products. By contrast, exports to the US and China declined. On balance, however, the EU maintained a well-diversified portfolio of export markets across the world.

Product diversification also remains a strength: EU agri-food exports continued to be distributed across a large set of product categories in all product classes. Cereals, dairy products and wine led the export basket. Higher global prices significantly boosted the value of cocoa products, coffee, chocolate and dairy exports. By contrast, olive oil exports declined in value due to lower prices, while exported volumes of wine and cereals also fell.

Agri-food exports represented 9% of total EU exports in 2025 (EUR 2.6 trillion), underlining the sector's strategic economic importance.

Higher prices increase overall value of imports

EU agri-food imports also grew, reaching a record EUR 188.6 billion, increasing 9% (+ EUR 16.2 billion) compared to 2024. This growth was primarily driven by growing import prices, which went up on average by 10% during the year. Agri-food imports accounted for 7.5% of total EU imports in 2025 (EUR 2.5 trillion).

Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices remained the most imported product category by the EU in 2025 and drove most of the increase in EU imports, as prices of cocoa and coffee reached record levels. Prices for imports fruits and nuts also increased. By contrast, import prices of oilseeds and protein crops declined, as well as imported volumes of cereals.The origin of EU imports remained well diversified in 2025. Imports from Sub-Saharan Africa, Canada, Viet Nam and the US increased, while those from Ukraine declined.

Surplus Narrows but Remains Strong

The stronger growth in imports led to a contraction of the EU's agri-food trade surplus, which fell to EUR 49.9 billion, some EUR 13.3 billion lower than in 2024. It should be remembered that the EU remains in surplus for most products.

Trade with free trade agreement partners remained central to performance. In 2025, 61% of EU agri-food exports and 57% of imports involved FTA partners, demonstrating the essential nature and growing importance of these agreements. This underlines the significance of two decades of expanding agreements and faster average trade growth with these countries.