EU significantly increases exports of beef

Lower revenues from exports than expenditures on imports

The European Union revised this year its position as exporter net of beef. According KE from January to August 2024 year. 27 member states exported to third countries a total of about 663 200 tons of beef and veal, including live animals

Imports of beef declined by 0.2 percent. to 239.2 tys. ton. Gives that export surplus net in the value of 424 000 ton in the reporting period in comparison with 385 000 ton in the first eight months 2023 year. The EU however, earns on exported beef significantly less, than it spends on their imports.

Trade deficit despite record volumes of exports

Under value the export surplus net UE is however slightly weaker. Revenues from exports of beef amounted to 3.2 billion euros compared to expenditures on imports of 1.6 billion euros. While when for supplies of EU to third counts average revenue at level 4840 euros/t, for purchases the cost is 6870 euros/t. This means that purchased beef is of higher quality in comparison with exports.

If achieved until August an increase of exports by 6.1 percent. had been achieved also in the whole year, after two slightly weaker years the border of 1 million ton would be repeatedly exceeded. In 2023 year the EU exported a total of 961.2 tys. ton of beef and veal, a in 2022 year it was a total of 942.5 tys. ton. while in 2021 year. beef was about 1.03 million tons, and in 2020 year almost 1.14 million tons. Imports of beef to the EU were in the years 2020-2023 in the range from 309 000 to 360 000 ton.

Great Britain the most important trade partner

By far the most important customer of beef and veal from the EU in the reporting period was Great Britain with 229 300 tons, which constituted a good third of total volume exports. In the second place is Turkey with 78 800 tons, which constitutes nearly 12 percent of share. Bosnia and Herzegovina took 27 800 tons, Israel over 26 100 tons, Ghana almost 24 000 tons, a Algeria 18 700 tons. The aforementioned countries totaled a small in the reporting period of over 60 percent of beef exports from the EU.

As a former EU member, Great Britain is not only the most important customer, but also the most important supplier of beef to the EU. From January to August 2024 year.It exported it to the EU a total of 69 900 tons. These are followed by Mercosur countries: Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay with almost 55 300, 43 500 and 30 200 tons.

129 000 tons from countries Mercosur

In the report period three countries of South America sold to EU a total 129 000 tons of beef. They received for that averaged 7160 euros per ton, that is about 290 euros/t more than the EU spent on average on imported beef. Following for the next time on the peak was Argentina, whose average revenue per ton was 7955 euros.

In total in 2023 year. Brazil,

Argentina and Uruguay delivered to EU 19 500 tons of beef. The EU-Mercosur agreement provides, that the import quota

of 99 000 ton of beef will be established – gradually, in over seven years – with

target of 7.5 percent.