EU exports decreased by 0.9% compared to the corresponding period in 2020, reaching €46.4 billion. EU imports attained €29.3 billion, 8.1% less than in the first quarter of 2020. However, the value for EU exports in March 2021 rose by 20% compared to the previous month. Similarly, EU imports increased in value by 24% in March compared to the previous month.

For January-March 2021, the EU export values fell most to the United Kingdom (down by €1 079 million), when compared with the same period in 2020. Significant decreases in the EU exports value affected the majority of agri-food products with pig meat (a decrease of€116 million), cigars and cigarettes (falling by €108 million) and meat preparations (down by €101 million) leading. Still, EU monthly exports have progressively increased since the end of the transition period. The value of EU exports to the UK were 27% higher in March 2021, compared to the previous month, and 1.3% higher than in March 2020.

Other destinations, for which the value of EU agri-food exports fell most since January 2021 compared to the same quarter last year, are Egypt (down €168 million), Japan (a decrease of €155 million), Russian Federation (fell by €145 million) and Saudi Arabia (down €136 million).

In January-March 2021, the EU export values to the United States have reached similar values to those observed in the same period in 2020, being slightly lower by €23 million. While exports have been negatively affected by drops in sales of soft drinks and waters (by €73 million), beer (down €61 million) and wine (fell by €51 million), increases in sales could be observed for pet food (up €36 million), soups and sauces (increase of €32 million) and olive oil (plus €32 million). Exports to the US in March 2021 were 33% higher than in February 2021 and 14% higher than in March 2020.

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