The EU agri-food trade surplus increased in February 2026, reaching €4.4 billion.

This represents a 43% increase compared with January and is broadly in line with February 2025 levels, new data from Eurostat shows.

While both exports and imports have declined slightly compared to last year, lower import values contributed to an improvement in the monthly trade balance.

The cumulative EU agri-food trade surplus for January to February totalled €7.4 billion in 2026, remaining stable compared with the same period in 2025.

Exports

The largest export declines were in cocoa products, pigmeat, and olives and olive oil while exports of fruits and nuts, as well as non-edible products, recorded increases.

Exports to the UK in January-February 2026 were 4% lower than in 2025 (down €336 million).

The value and volume of exports decreased in most product categories, particularly for pigmeat and cereals.

The US is the second biggest destination of EU exports and also recorded a year-on-year export decline in January-February 2026, down 20% (€1 billion).

Overall, exports of pigmeat decreased by €267 million (-13%), mainly due to lower prices (-12%).

Exports of preparations of fruit, nuts and vegetables also decreased by €203 million (-10%), primarily due to lower exported volumes (-6%) but also to lower prices (-4%).

Imports

EU agri-food imports stood at €14.5 billion in February 2026, down 1% month-on-month and 5% year-on-year.

Total imports for January-February reached €29.1 billion, a decrease of €2.2 billion (−7%) compared with 2025.

The biggest import declines were in cocoa products, cereals, and oilseeds whereas imports of beef and veal, fruits and nuts, as well as margarine and other oils and fats recorded increases.

Imports of beef and veal increased by €130 million (+28%), mainly due to higher imports from Brazil (€54 million), the UK (€35 million) and Uruguay (€24 million), and supported by the current short supply and high prices of EU beef and veal.

Imports of cereals also fell by €540 million (-30%), mostly due to lower import volumes of wheat (-62%), but also of maize (-11%).