CHANGES OF EU COUNTRIES POSITIONS IN THE INTERNATIONAL FOOD TRADE IN 2007-2017

Abstract

This paper analyzes changes of EU countries positions in the international food trade in 2007-2017. All EU member countries are considered and segregated as food net exporters and food net importers and merchandise net exporters and merchandise net importers. There were 10 net exporters and 18 net importers of food in 2017 and 11 net exporters and 17 net importers of food in 2007. European Union as a whole was net exporter of food in 2013-2017 and net importer of food till 2012. Netherlands were the first food net exporter in the whole analyzed period. France dropped from the second position to the fourth position of the food net exporters. Poland rose from the sixth to the third position and Spain rose from the eight to the second position of the food net exporters. Great Britain was the first one and Germany was the second food net importer in the whole analyzed period. Whereas, Italy dropped from the third net importer in 2007 to a little important net importer 2017. The systematically dropping Italian food trade deficit lets to forecast that this country will be the EU food net exporter in the near future.