EU exports continue to grow

EU food and agriculture exports were stable in the 12 months that ended at the start of September with sales of 136.6 billion euros. Significant growth was achieved in many key markets, including Japan, Russia and Ukraine, and the United States remains the EU’s most important market, with sales topping 130 million euros.

Growth has been strongest for wines, spirits and sugar while exports fell for the traditional agricultural stalwarts of wheat, milk powders and pork. Sales of infant formula rose, which was good news for Ireland and France as major producers of these high-value dairy products.

Agri-imports also rose over the year but the EU still has a 22 billion euros positive balance of trade with the rest of the world.

The biggest source of imports was Brazil, closely followed by the United States, China and Argentina.

Agricultural imports are dominated by soya and in recent months the US has squeezed out Brazil as the number one supplier to the EU.

The figures, based on 2015, may be out of date, but the trends on EU farm values will not have changed.

These are based on the latest Farm Economics Overview report from the European Commission, based on 2014 and 2015 data.

The delay reflects the time needed to calculate the masses of farm census information that reach Brussels from member states.

The UK has, by far, the most valuable farm holdings, with an average value of £1.6 million against an EU28 average of just £250,000.

The figures confirm huge differences across the EU. The 15 ‘old’ EU member states had values five times greater than the 13 ‘new’ EU member states.

The UK, as net value leader, was followed by the Netherlands and Denmark. The big differences were down to land values and directly reflected how big a part dairying played in the farm economy.

Across the EU, the average farm had assets of around 335,000 euros and liabilities around 55,000 euros.

Predictably, the worst-off farms, in terms of net values, were in Romania and Bulgaria.

The decision whether or not to approve the licence for glyphosate in 2022 might seem a distant threat to agriculture – but already the squabbles are beginning in Brussels over who will be rapporteurs to study information on behalf of the Commission and other member states.

France is pressing for a new approach based on a number of rapporteurs, all with an equal input. France wants to be part of this, but it has already said it plans to find ways to ban glyphosate in the country.

This area of scientific debate flags up a significant potential post-Brexit problem.

Getty Images. Picture: Until recently, Brazil was the top supplier of soya to the EU.