EU Agri-Food Trade Surplus Plunges 35% in November as Import Costs Surge

The European Union’s agri-food trade surplus dropped sharply in November 2025, reaching €4.1 billion. This figure marks a 35% decrease compared to the exceptional level recorded in October and is 22% lower than in November 2024. The decline comes after a period of strong performance earlier in the year, with the cumulative agri-food trade surplus from January to November 2025 totaling €46.1 billion. However, this cumulative figure remains €13.1 billion below the same period in 2024, mainly due to higher import prices.

After an outstanding month in October, EU agri-food exports returned to more typical levels in November. Exports for the month totaled €19.7 billion, representing a 10% drop from October and a 2% decrease compared to November of the previous year. Despite this monthly decline, total exports from January to November reached €219.2 billion, which is €2.8 billion higher (+1%) than during the same period in 2024.

The performance of EU exports continued to be supported by high prices for cocoa-based products and coffee. These categories helped offset weaker results in other sectors. However, cereal exports continued their downward trend due to lower overall volumes.

On the import side, EU agri-food imports remained high in November 2025, totaling €15.6 billion. This represents a 1% increase both month-on-month and year-on-year. From January through November, cumulative imports reached €173.1 billion, up by €15.9 billion (+10%) compared to the same period last year.

The main factor behind the reduced trade surplus is the sustained rise in import prices throughout 2025. While export values have grown slightly over the year, the pace has not matched that of imports, leading to a narrowing of the surplus.

These figures reflect ongoing challenges for EU agri-food trade as global market conditions remain volatile and input costs continue to affect both export and import dynamics across member states.