Hope and reality: EU accession’s impact on Hungarian agri-food trade

The principal aim of this article is to examine how Hungary’s agricultural trade has changed since EU accession and whether the country has managed to retain its position as a net exporter. After analysing the Eurostat database’s latest statistical data we concluded that Hungary’s agri-food trade position has deteriorated regarding both old and new EU member states. The central causes for this are not so much insufficient exports but rather a sharp rise in imports. Future prospects hinge on further EU enlargement, changes in the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, the outcome of the WTO Doha Round, and trends in world agriculture. To adapt to expected changes and to capitalise on emerging opportunities, Hungary should alter its agricultural export commodity structure in order to increase its competitiveness and diversify its geographical structure.