Europe buys roughly 238 million bushels (6.5 million metric tons) of soybeans and soymeal exports, or about $3 billion in value.
For the current marketing year, which began Sept. 1, European countries have bought 4.5 million metric tons (mmt) of soybeans, up 710,000 metric tons (mt) from the same period last year. Spain, Netherlands and Germany are the largest buyers, according to USDA data.
Europe is a major market for almonds, especially to countries such as Germany, Netherlands and Italy.
Also on the list is wine, which accounts for about $170 million in exports to Europe.
For dairy, the U.S. only exports about $115 million in dairy products to Europe while importing $3 billion in dairy products.
Overall, the U.S. carries a large agricultural trade imbalance with the EU, importing an average of $36 billion in agricultural products while exporting about $13 billion.
“We’ve gone almost 25 years where exports to Europe have been flat as a pancake,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, in a speech two weeks ago at the USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum, which he criticized EU food policies and limits on U.S. products.
“We export 15 times more cheese in Guatemala than we do the European Union. Folks, we export more cheese in New Zealand,” Doud said.
Doud, in his speech, made a point that one way for the U.S. to level the playing field for agricultural exports would be to impose tariffs.
Also see, “Expanding US Farm Exports: Can Tariffs Help Level the Playing Field?” https://www.dtnpf.com/…
Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com
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