Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

The EU's agricultural and food trade sector continued its strong performance during the first half of 2026, according to the latest EU report on the sector, published by the European Commission in Brussels. The trade surplus reached €23.9 billion, an increase of €1.4 billion compared to the same period in 2025. In June 2026, total EU exports of agricultural and food products amounted to €20.3 billion, marking a 5% increase compared to the previous month and a 6% increase compared to June 2025.

Total exports reached €117.2 billion between January and June 2026, a 2% decrease compared to the first half of 2025, mainly due to a decline in the value of exports of cocoa, pork, and olive oil. Meanwhile, total exports to Egypt increased by €278 million (+28%) year-on-year, driven mainly by wheat exports, while exports to India rose by €174 million (+26%) and to Ukraine by €247 million (+12%). In contrast, exports to the UAE fell by €395 million (-25%), reflecting disruptions related to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Exports of spirits and liqueurs increased by €405 million (+10%), while exports of coffee, tea, cocoa, and spices saw the largest declines in value.

Total imports during the period from January to June 2026 amounted to approximately €93.4 billion, a decrease of €3.6 billion (-4%) year-on-year. This decline was primarily due to a decrease in the value of cocoa imports. In terms of product categories, imports of coffee, tea, cocoa, and spices decreased by €3.6 billion (-17%), while cereal imports fell by €715 million (-15%). Conversely, imports of fruit and nuts increased by €503 million (+3%).

According to figures from Eurostat in Brussels, 6.9 million commercial flights were recorded in the European Union in 2025, an increase of 3.8% compared to 2024 (6.7 million). The number of flights has been steadily increasing since 2021, and by 2025, it is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels, with 7 million flights recorded in 2019.

Non-scheduled commercial flights (charter and other private flights) accounted for 8.5% of total flights in 2025. The highest percentage of non-scheduled flights was recorded during the summer months: June (648,707 flights), July (690,855 flights), and August (693,046 flights) (11.2%, 12.3%, and 11.4%, respectively).

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: The Best Airport for Commercial Flights
The highest number of commercial flights (scheduled and non-scheduled) in 2025 was recorded at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands, with 488,000 flights. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (476,000 passengers) followed in France, then Frankfurt Airport (457,000 passengers) in Germany.

Among the ten airports with the highest number of commercial flights, the highest percentage of unscheduled flights was recorded at Athens/Eleftherios Venizelos Airport (5.2%) in Greece, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (4.8%) in Spain, and Copenhagen/Kastrup Airport (4.1%) in Denmark.