Revenues for the food and drink industry accounted for 12.9% of the EU’s manufacturing sector in 2009, making it the largest sector in terms of sales, according to the Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries’ (CIAA) “2010 Data & Trends of the European Food and Drink Industry” report. In 2009, the sector’s sales fell 4.0% to €954 billion ($1.38 trillion). The sector’s 310,000 companies exported €53.7 billion worth of food and beverage products in 2009 for an 18.6% share of global food exports. Exports accounted for €53,731 million in 2009, an 8.0% decline, while imports totaled €53,731 million, down 14.2%. For 2009 food and beverage net sales, Germany led the EU with €147.7 billion, 5.5% less than 2008. The largest food category was “various food products,” which comprised 26% of revenue. Within this category, bread, fresh pastry goods and cakes accounted for 30% of revenues and cocoa, chocolate and sugar comprised 19%. From January 2010 to July 2010, EU food and drink exports jumped 18.4% to €37,093 million. During the same period, the average value of imports grew 1.8% to €35,124 million.

Source: CIAA