According to the latest Eurostat data, Poland exported a total of 2,048,621 tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables in 2016, up 10% compared to a year earlier, when the total volume reached 1,868,215 tonnes.
Of this volume, 1,069,042 tonnes were shipped to other Member States and 979,980 tonnes to non-EU countries. The main importer of Polish fruits and vegetables was definitely Belarus, with 688.4 thousand tonnes, 74% more than in the same period of the previous year. Looking at other Soviet republics, Poland also exported horticultural products to Ukraine (89.6 thousand tonnes) and to Kazakhstan (63.3 thousand tonnes).
As regards deliveries to other EU countries, the leading importer of Polish fruit and vegetables, according to Eurostat, was Germany, with 180 thousand tonnes, followed by Romania, with 117 thousand tonnes, the Czech Republic, with 116.8 thousand tonnes, the United Kingdom, with 104.2 thousand tonnes, and Lithuania, with 82.2 thousand tonnes. Moreover, 64 thousand tonnes of fruits and vegetables were exported to Slovakia and to the Netherlands.
Apples, an export hit
As every year, the biggest Polish horticultural exports corresponded to apples. Of the total 2,049 million tonnes of fresh fruits and vegetables exported, apples accounted for 1,079,851 tonnes. More than 721 thousand tonnes of apples hit third markets and 358.3 thousand tonnes went to other EU states. The most important buyer of Polish apples was once again Belarus, with 513.6 thousand tonnes. Fewer than 70 thousand tonnes were bought by Romania, 60 thousand tonnes hit the Kazakh market and 51 thousand tonnes were shipped to Germany.
According to data supplied by FAMMU/FAPA, other important products were mushrooms, with 220.6 thousand tonnes, onions, with 107.8 thousand tonnes, and tomatoes, with 95 thousand tonnes.
Source: gospodarz.pl