Food Trade Comparison

Food Trade Comparison for Western
Europe and North America
Steven D. Savage, Ph.D.

Savage&Associates
Applied Mythology Blog
Savage.sd@gmail.com
Overview
North America and Western Europe are similar in terms of population
(451 and 464 million respectively) and in wealth per capita GDPs of
$39,391 and $34,828 respectively. However, these regions are very
different in terms of food self sufficiency. Over the last 10 years W.
Europe has been a net importer of an average of 59 million metric tons
of food/year which represents 132 kg per person. Over the same time
period, N. America has exported a net 145.5 million metric tons or
313.7 kg/person. Animal feeds are the largest category both for
European imports and N. American exports. Other large categories
are oils, fruit, sweeteners, meats and cereal grains. W. Europe is a net
exporter of meat, grains, vegetables, dairy, flours, processed grains
and alcoholic beverages. While there are a number of categories for
which North American exports are rising over time, this is only true for
a few categories of food for Western Europe. As global food supplies
tighten between now and mid-century, Europe can be expected to be a
major competitor with other, less affluent parts of the world such as
Africa that depend on international food trade.
Background and Methodology
Trade statistics are available from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAOSTATS) from 1961 to 2010.
Data was downloaded for North America (Canada, Mexico, US), for Europe (41
countries). FAOs region for Eastern Europe was also downloaded and the data
subtracted to leave 30 countries representing Western Europe (Albania, Austria,
Belgium, Belgium-Luxembourg, Bosnia and Hertzegovina, Croatia, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Serbia and
Montenegro, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom). Africa data
based on FAOSTATS list of 55 countries.
The hundreds of commodities represented were summarized to 22 major categories:

alcoholic beverages, bran, coffee/tea, chocolate-ingredients, dairy, animal fats,
animal feed (maize, soybeans, sorghum, hay), fiber, flour, fruit, fruit juice, germ,
cereal grains (wheat, barley, rye, rice), processed foods from grains, meats, nuts,
vegetable oils, pet food, pulse crops, spices, starch crops, sweeteners (sugar beets,
sugar cane), vegetables. Tobacco products and fiber crops were analyzed, but not
included in the final food summary
Population and per capita GDP data were taken from Wikipedia
North America has net food exports of approximately three

times the net imports of Western Europe which imports as
much food as Africa which has 2.53 times the population
Comparison of Net Food Import Status
100,000,000
Western Europe Net Importer
50,000,000
Metric Tonnes
Africa Net Importer

0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
-50,000,000
-100,000,000
-150,000,000
North America Net Exporter

-200,000,000
2010
Summary of Trade and Production Magnitudes and

Direction for Major Crop Categories
Summary of Trade Magnitudes and Direction for Minor

Crop Categories
Summary On a Per
Capita Basis
Net Food Trade Average 2001-2010 Expressed As Pounds

per Person per Year
Animal Feeds
Vegetable Oils
Fruit
Sweeteners
Meat
Cereal Grains
Nuts
Tea/Coffee
Starch crops
Chocolate-related
Pulse Crops
Spices
Pet Food
Fruit Juices
Bran
Germ
Vegetables
Animal Fats
Dairy
Flour
Alcoholic Beverages
Processed Grains
Total
W. Europe
215.0
67.1
40.2
17.3
-10.9
-23.4
13.1
12.7
5.4
4.5
3.4
0.8
0.5
0.1
0.0
-0.1
-2.8
-2.8
-6.5
-8.6
-16.8
-18.1
290.2
N. America
-483.5
-26.6
35.9
19.5
-23.9
-213.4
-3.0
7.1
0.5
3.4
-22.1
0.8
-3.7
10.7
-1.1
0.0
12.3
-6.8
-1.8
-2.8
17.6
-10.0
-690.9
Africa
29.9
9.4
-7.2
8.1
2.7
73.1
-1.0
-1.3
0.1
-3.8
1.8
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.2
0.0
0.5
0.5
2.0
4.1
0.3
2.2
121.6
Positive values are net imports, negative values are net exports
Major Trade Commodities
Comparison of Net Import Status for Western Europe and

North America (kg per capita, average 2001-2010)
150
100
98
W Europe
Net Imports
50
30
18
16
N America
-100
-150
Net Exports
-200
-250
-220
-11
-11
grains
-5
meat
sweeteners
-12
fruit
oils
-50
feed
-97
Minor Trade Commodities (1 of 2)

8.0
6.0
5.7
6.0
3.2
4.0
W Europe
Net Imports
2.0
2.5
2.1
1.6
N America
1.6
1.2
0.4 -0.1
0.2
0.4 0.4
0.2
0.0
-10.0
Net Exports
-1.7
pet food
spices
tobacco
products
-6.4
-10.1
-12.0
fiber
pulses
chocolate
-8.0
starch
-6.0
caffeine
-4.0
-1.4
nuts
-2.0
Minor Trade Commodities (2 of 2)

10.0
8.0
8.0
W Europe
6.0
4.9
5.6
Net Imports
N America
4.0
2.0
0.0
0.0
-0.1 0.0
-10.0
Net Exports
-3.1 -2.9
-1.2
flour
dairy
-0.8
fat
germ
-1.3
-3.9
-7.6
grains
processed
-8.0
-1.3
vegetables
-6.0
bran
-4.0
-0.5
fruit juice
-2.0
Alcoholic
beverages
0.0
-4.6
-8.2
Europes most significant imports are commodities used as

animal feeds
European Trade Trends ( Animal Feed )
Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)
90,000,000
W Europe
All Europe
80,000,000
70,000,000
60,000,000
50,000,000
40,000,000
30,000,000
20,000,000
10,000,000
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
North America exports vast quantities of animal feed crops

North American Trade Trends ( Animal Feed )
0
1960
-20,000,000
-40,000,000
-60,000,000
-80,000,000
-100,000,000
-120,000,000
-140,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Africa is a growing importer of feed crops

African Trade Trends ( Feed Crops )
25,000,000
20,000,000
15,000,000
10,000,000
5,000,000
0
1960
-5,000,000
-10,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
European imports of Oilseeds have been increasing since

1980
European Trade Trends ( Oilseeds )
25,000,000
W Europe
All Europe
20,000,000
15,000,000
10,000,000
5,000,000
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Net Oilseed exports from North America have been

increasing, particularly in recent years
North American Trade Trends ( Oil Seeds )
0
1960
-1,000,000
-2,000,000
-3,000,000
-4,000,000
-5,000,000
-6,000,000
-7,000,000
-8,000,000
-9,000,000
-10,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Africa imports ~70% as much oilseed as Europe

African Trade Trends (Oilseeds )
8,000,000
7,000,000
6,000,000
5,000,000
4,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
0
1960
-1,000,000
-2,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Europe, particularly Western Europe, is a growing net

importer of sweeteners
European Trade Trends ( Sweeteners )
12,000,000
10,000,000
W Europe
All Europe
8,000,000
6,000,000
4,000,000
2,000,000
1960
-2,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
North American sweetener imports are moderate and

relatively stable
North American Trade Trends ( Sweeteners )
9,000,000
8,000,000
7,000,000
6,000,000
5,000,000
4,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Africa imports more sweeteners than Europe or North

America
African Trade Trends ( Sweeteners )
8,000,000
7,000,000
6,000,000
5,000,000
4,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
0
1960
-1,000,000
-2,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Europe is a net importer of fruit, but recent growth has

been outside of Western Europe
European Trade Trends ( Fruit )
18,000,000
W Europe
All Europe
16,000,000
14,000,000
12,000,000
10,000,000
8,000,000
6,000,000
4,000,000
2,000,000
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Fruit is one of the fastest growing import items for North

America
North American Trade Trends ( Fruit )
10,000,000
9,000,000
8,000,000
7,000,000
6,000,000
5,000,000
4,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Africa is an increasingly large exporter of fruit

African Trade Trends ( Fruit )
0
1960
-500,000
-1,000,000
-1,500,000
-2,000,000
-2,500,000
-3,000,000
-3,500,000
-4,000,000
-4,500,000
-5,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Fruit juices are a minor component of Europes net imports

or exports
European Trade Trends ( Fruit Juice )
2,000,000
W Europe
All Europe
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
1960
-500,000
-1,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
North America is a net importer of fruit juices, increasingly

so since the turn of the century
North American Trade Trends ( Fruit Juices )
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
1960
-500,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Africa has very limited trade in fruit juices

African Trade Trends ( Fruit Juices )
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
1960
-20,000
-40,000
-60,000
-80,000
-100,000
-120,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Europe continues to slowly increase imports of coffee and

tea
European Trade Trends ( Coffee and Tea... )
4,000,000
W Europe
All Europe
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
North American coffee and tea imports have been rising

slowly since the mid 1990s
North American Trade Trends ( Coffee and Tea... )
1,800,000
1,600,000
1,400,000
1,200,000
1,000,000
800,000
600,000
400,000
200,000
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Africas coffee and tea exports are diminishing slowly

African Trade Trends ( Coffee and Tea)
0
1960
-200,000
-400,000
-600,000
-800,000
-1,000,000
-1,200,000
-1,400,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Europe is a net importer of nuts, mainly for Western Europe

in recent decades
European Trade Trends ( Nuts )
4,500,000
4,000,000
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
W Europe
All Europe
500,000
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
North America is a major exporter of almonds and peanuts

and an importer of cashews
North American Trade Trends ( Nuts )
500,000
0
1960
-500,000
-1,000,000
-1,500,000
-2,000,000
-2,500,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
African nut exports are now minor

African Trade Trends ( Nuts )
0
1960
-500,000
-1,000,000
-1,500,000
-2,000,000
-2,500,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Europe had been a moderate net importer of pulse crops,

but very recently has dropped to near a net zero exchange
European Trade Trends ( Pulse Crops )
2,500,000
2,000,000
W Europe
All Europe
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
1960
-500,000
-1,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
North America has rapidly expanding net exports of pulse

crops
North American Trade Trends ( Pulse Crops )
0
1960
-1,000,000
-2,000,000
-3,000,000
-4,000,000
-5,000,000
-6,000,000
-7,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Africa imports a small but growing quantity of pulse crops

African Trade Trends ( Pulse Crops )
1,400,000
1,200,000
1,000,000
800,000
600,000
400,000
200,000
0
1960
-200,000
-400,000
-600,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Spices are a minor import item for Europe

European Trade Trends ( Spices)
300,000
W Europe
All Europe
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
North American spice imports are also increasing

North American Trade Trends ( Spices )
200,000
180,000
160,000
140,000
120,000
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Africa has shifted from being a net exporter of spices to a

minor net importer
African Trade Trends ( Spices )
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
1960
-50,000
-100,000
-150,000
-200,000
-250,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Europe was once a major importer of starch crops

primarily cassava, but this has declined to near zero
European Trade Trends ( Starch Sources )
10,000,000
9,000,000
W Europe
All Europe
8,000,000
7,000,000
6,000,000
5,000,000
4,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
0
1960
-1,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
North America does import some starch sources,

particularly cassava
North American Trade Trends ( Starch Crops )
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
1960
-50,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Africa now imports small amounts of cassava

African Trade Trends ( Starch )
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
1960
-50,000
-100,000
-150,000
-200,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Western Europe has seen declining imports of tobacco-based products

since the late 70s a trend only more recently seen for all of Europe
European Trade Trends ( Tobacco Products )
800,000
700,000
W Europe
All Europe
600,000
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
North American net trade in tobacco products has

diminished to near zero
North American Trade Trends ( Tobacco Products )
50,000
0
1960
-50,000
-100,000
-150,000
-200,000
-250,000
-300,000
-350,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Africa is a tobacco exporter

African Trade Trends ( Tobacco )
0
1960
-50,000
-100,000
-150,000
-200,000
-250,000
-300,000
-350,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Western Europe has become a small, net exporter of

vegetables while Europe as a whole is a net importer
European Trade Trends ( Vegetables )
5,000,000
4,000,000
W Europe
All Europe
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
1960
-1,000,000
-2,000,000
-3,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Net Vegetable imports to North America have been

growing steadily since ~1990
North American Trade Trends ( Vegetables )
4,500,000
4,000,000
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
1960
-500,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Africas net vegetable exports have become a small net

import
African Trade Trends ( Vegetables )
1,000,000
500,000
0
1960
-500,000
-1,000,000
-1,500,000
-2,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Europe is a net exporter of meat products, particularly

Western Europe
European Trade Trends ( Meat Products )
2,000,000
1,000,000
1960
1970
-1,000,000
-2,000,000
-3,000,000
W Europe
All Europe
-4,000,000
-5,000,000
1980
1990
2000
2010
North America is a major exporter of meat

North American Trade Trends ( Meat )
2,000,000
1,000,000
0
1960
-1,000,000
-2,000,000
-3,000,000
-4,000,000
-5,000,000
-6,000,000
-7,000,000
-8,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Africa is a growing net importer of meat

African Trade Trends ( Meat )
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
1960
-500,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Europe is a highly productive region for grain crops, but at

least for Western Europe, net exports have declined
European Trade Trends ( Grains )
30,000,000
W Europe
All Europe
20,000,000
10,000,000
0
1960
-10,000,000
-20,000,000
-30,000,000
-40,000,000
-50,000,000
-60,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
North American net grain exports have been stably in the

40-50 million tonne range for the last 15 years
North American Trade Trends ( Grains )
0
1960
-10,000,000
-20,000,000
-30,000,000
-40,000,000
-50,000,000
-60,000,000
-70,000,000
-80,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Africa is highly dependent on grain imports

African Trade Trends ( Grains )
50,000,000
45,000,000
40,000,000
35,000,000
30,000,000
25,000,000
20,000,000
15,000,000
10,000,000
5,000,000
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Grain-based products had been a growing net export for

Europe, but that trend has recently reversed
European Trade Trends
( Processed Foods From Grains )
1,000,000
1960
1970
-1,000,000
-2,000,000
-3,000,000
-4,000,000
-5,000,000
W Europe
All Europe
1980
1990
2000
2010
Grain-based products (e.g. cereals, malt, bread) have

been a minor net export except for a brief period
North American Trade Trends ( Grain-based
Products )
500,000
0
1960
-500,000
-1,000,000
-1,500,000
-2,000,000
-2,500,000
-3,000,000
-3,500,000
-4,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Africa is also importing more and more products made from

grains
African Trade Trends ( Grain-based Products )
1,600,000
1,400,000
1,200,000
1,000,000
800,000
600,000
400,000
200,000
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Not surprisingly, Europe imports substantial quantities of

ingredients for chocolate
European Trade Trends ( Chocolate )
1,600,000
1,400,000
W Europe
All Europe
1,200,000
1,000,000
800,000
600,000
400,000
200,000
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
North American chocolate-related imports have been

growing since 1980
North American Trade Trends ( Chocolate-related )
1,000,000
900,000
800,000
700,000
600,000
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Africa is a major and growing source of chocolate

African Trade Trends ( Ingredients for Chocolate )
0
1960
-500,000
-1,000,000
-1,500,000
-2,000,000
-2,500,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Europe has been a net exporter of dairy products, but for

Western Europe, those exports have been declining
European Trade Trends ( Dairy )
500,000
1960
-500,000
-1,000,000
-1,500,000
-2,000,000
-2,500,000
-3,000,000
-3,500,000
1970
1980
1990
W Europe
All Europe
2000
2010
North America has only recently begun to have much in the

way of net dairy exports
North American Trade Trends ( Dairy )
400,000
200,000
0
1960
-200,000
-400,000
-600,000
-800,000
-1,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Africa imports a significant amount of dairy products

African Trade Trends ( Dairy )
1,400,000
1,200,000
1,000,000
800,000
600,000
400,000
200,000
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
European net flour exports have been declining since 1990

European Trade Trends ( Flours )
1,000,000
W Europe
All Europe
1960
-1,000,000
-2,000,000
-3,000,000
-4,000,000
-5,000,000
-6,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
North American flour exports have also been declining on a

net basis
North American Trade Trends ( Flour )
0
1960
-500,000
-1,000,000
-1,500,000
-2,000,000
-2,500,000
-3,000,000
-3,500,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Africa is importing less of its grain as flour

African Trade Trends ( Flour )
4,500,000
4,000,000
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Europe is a major net exporter of alcoholic beverages,

primarily wine and distilled alcohol products
European Trade Trends ( Alcoholic Beverages )
2,000,000
W Europe
All Europe
1,000,000
1960
-1,000,000
-2,000,000
-3,000,000
-4,000,000
-5,000,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Net imports of alcoholic beverages (beer>distilled products>wine) have

been rapidly increasing for North America
North American Trade Trends ( Alcoholic
beverages )
6,000,000
5,000,000
4,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Once a net exporter, Africa has recently become a net

importer of alcoholic products
African Trade Trends ( Alcoholic Beverages )
400,000
200,000
0
1960
-200,000
-400,000
-600,000
-800,000
-1,000,000
-1,200,000
-1,400,000
-1,600,000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010

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Food Trade Comparison

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Food Trade Comparison for Western

Europe and North America

Steven D. Savage, Ph.D.

Background and Methodology

The hundreds of commodities represented were summarized to 22 major categories:

North America has net food exports of approximately three

Western Europe Net Importer

Africa Net Importer

North America Net Exporter

Summary of Trade and Production Magnitudes and

Summary of Trade Magnitudes and Direction for Minor

Net Food Trade Average 2001-2010 Expressed As Pounds

Major Trade Commodities

Comparison of Net Import Status for Western Europe and

Minor Trade Commodities (1 of 2)

Comparison of Net Import Status for Western Europe and

Minor Trade Commodities (2 of 2)

Comparison of Net Import Status for Western Europe and

Europes most significant imports are commodities used as

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

North America exports vast quantities of animal feed crops

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

Africa is a growing importer of feed crops

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

European imports of Oilseeds have been increasing since

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

Net Oilseed exports from North America have been

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

Africa imports ~70% as much oilseed as Europe

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

Europe, particularly Western Europe, is a growing net

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

North American sweetener imports are moderate and

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

Africa imports more sweeteners than Europe or North

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

Europe is a net importer of fruit, but recent growth has

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

Fruit is one of the fastest growing import items for North

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

Africa is an increasingly large exporter of fruit

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

Fruit juices are a minor component of Europes net imports

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

North America is a net importer of fruit juices, increasingly

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

Africa has very limited trade in fruit juices

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

Europe continues to slowly increase imports of coffee and

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

North American coffee and tea imports have been rising

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

Africas coffee and tea exports are diminishing slowly

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

Europe is a net importer of nuts, mainly for Western Europe

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

North America is a major exporter of almonds and peanuts

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

African nut exports are now minor

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

Europe had been a moderate net importer of pulse crops,

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)

North America has rapidly expanding net exports of pulse

Net Imports (Tonnes, Imports - Exports)