The European Union recorded an agri-food trade surplus of €6.4 billion in October 2025, the highest monthly figure in over a year.
The surplus in October was up 18% compared to September and 19% higher than the same month in 2024, the European Commission announced on Monday.
Agri-food products include agricultural goods and processed foods such as cereals, meat, dairy, cocoa, and coffee.
Cumulative figures from January to October 2025 show the EU agri-food trade surplus reached €42 billion.
This is €12.5 billion less than during the same period in 2024, mainly because of persistently high import prices, particularly for cocoa and coffee.
Record export levels
EU exports of agri-food products hit €20.7 billion in October, a rise of 7% compared to the previous month and 1% more than in October last year.
From January to October, exports totalled €199.4 billion, an increase of 2% year-on-year.
The boost in export value was largely driven by higher prices for cocoa-based goods and coffee. In contrast, cereal exports fell due to lower shipment volumes.
On the import side, the EU purchased €15.4 billion worth of agri-food products in October — a 4% monthly increase, but 5% below the corresponding period last year.
Over the first ten months of 2025, agri-food imports stood at €157.4 billion, up €15.5 billion or 11% from 2024.
Higher import values continued to be driven by global price increases rather than a jump in imported quantities, the report said.
Surplus rises as import growth slows
The combination of sharply rising exports and slower growth in imports led to a notable improvement in the EU's agri-food trade balance in October.
The monthly surplus reached €6.4 billion, continuing a steady upward trend seen since late summer.
Despite the October improvement, the cumulative surplus for the year remains below 2024 figures.
