EU livestock trade shifts as pork exports fall, beef climbs

EU agri-food exports reached EUR 138.7 billion in the first seven months of 2026, down 1% year-on-year, driven largely by reduced exports of pork, according to a report from the European Commission. Pigmeat exports fell by EUR 930 million (-13%), mostly due to lower prices and falling volumes to China, Japan, the Philippines and the UK.

Beef and veal exports moved in the opposite direction, rising EUR 295 million (+16%) over the same period. Exports to Turkey grew by EUR 235 million (+7%), mostly due to beef and veal shipments, while exports to Japan fell 11% (-EUR 538 million), driven in part by lower pork volumes following the African swine fever outbreak in Spain in November 2025.

Dairy exports held up relatively well, rising EUR 245 million (+2%) in the first seven months of the year. On the import side, however, dairy product imports decreased by EUR 308 million (-19%), following elevated 2025 levels that had been favoured by high EU prices.

Poultry and egg imports rose EUR 250 million (+14%), while poultry and egg exports increased more modestly.

Cereal exports grew slightly, up EUR 77 million (+1%) to EUR 6.2 billion, while cereal imports fell by EUR 609 million (-11%), mostly due to reductions in wheat (-EUR 455 million, -32%, largely in volumes) and rice (-EUR 214 million, -18%, in both volumes and prices). Imports from Canada decreased 19% (-EUR 508 million), primarily due to lower import volumes of maize and lower volumes and prices of wheat.

The EU's agri-food trade surplus widened to EUR 30.1 billion in the first seven months of 2026, EUR 2.9 billion more than the same period a year earlier, supported largely by falling cocoa prices.