ROME (ITALPRESS) – In the year of the pandemic, the agri-food sector guaranteed supplies to the single European market. Not only that, exports outside the EU have also increased, in the face of a contraction in international trade of more than 5% worldwide. According to definitive data from the European Commission, Confagricoltura highlights, sector exports amounted to 184 billion euros in 2020, with an increase of 1.5% over the previous year. The balance of trade with third countries closed in surplus for 62 billion, three percentage points more than in 2019. “The data once again demonstrate the economic vitality of European agri-food. It is a strategic asset to be safeguard and enhance “, declares the president of Confagricoltura, Massimiliano Giansanti:” The results obtained by Made in Italy should also be underlined: with approximately 46 billion euros, sector exports have come to account for over 10% of total sales abroad of Italy “. EU exports were driven last year by the sharp increase in Chinese purchases of pork (over 2 billion more than 2019) and wheat (1.7 billion). Conversely, the limitations of the HoReCa channel due to the health emergency have slowed down wine exports to third country markets (1.2 billion euros less). “Now we must be ready to intercept the economic recovery, already underway in China and in the Asian continent”, notes Giansanti. “The gross domestic product in the United States will show an increase of more than 6% this year, almost double compared to the estimates referring to the EU. The WTO estimates indicate a recovery in international trade of more than 8% over 2020″. “All the conditions are in place to resume the growth path that has seen Italian agri-food exports double over ten years”, adds the president of Confagricoltura. “Spain’s agri-food exports reached 57 billion euros in 2020. It is a goal that we can reach and improve, – concludes Giansanti – to the advantage of all the components of the supply chain and of the Italian economy. We must set ourselves ambitious goals in terms of growth “. (ITALPRESS). spf / sat / red 05-Apr-21 14:52
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