The EU's vegetable imports from third countries increased by 1% in terms of volume and by 4% in terms of value in 2017 compared to the previous year, totalling 2.2 million tonnes and 2,683 million Euro. Tomatoes and potatoes were the most imported products and Morocco and Egypt the largest suppliers.
The EU import of tomatoes from third countries grew strongly in 2017, reaching 568,069 tonnes (8% more than in 2016) worth 647.7 million Euro (+22%). Morocco strengthened its position as the EU's main supplier, with 71% of the total. Moroccan tomato imports in 2017 totalled 404,983 tonnes (3% more than in 2016) worth 487,712 million Euro (+17%). This country is also managing to diversify its vegetable exports to the EU, with a total of 724,176 tonnes worth 1.02 million Euro.
The EU's second largest non-EU supplier of tomatoes is Turkey, which exported 101,140 tonnes (+42%) to the EU worth 104 million Euro (+63%).
Potatoes are the second most imported vegetable in the EU, with 430,493 tonnes (+14%) worth 160 million Euro (+4%). In 2017, Egypt became the largest supplier, with 220,949 tonnes (40% more than in 2016). The country took over the top position in the ranking from Israel, whose potato exports to the EU totalled 177,943 tonnes (7% less than in 2016).
Onions are the third most imported vegetable by the EU, with 303,424 tonnes in 2017 (14% less than in 2016) worth 265 million Euro (-14%). Egypt is the largest supplier, with 80,998 tonnes (7% less than in 2016) worth 60 million Euro (-5.5%).
Lastly, green beans also have a prominent position in the ranking, with 231,280 tonnes (-4%) imported by the EU in 2017 worth 544 million Euro (-1%). Morocco is the largest supplier, with 127,010 tonnes (-20%) and 261,000 Euro (+0.3%), according to data from the Statistical Office of the EU, Eurostat, processed by FEPEX.
Source: fepex.es