In its 2020 Activity Report, Freshfel Europe highlights that -on Intra-EU trade- the 5-year trend in 2019 intra-trade amounted to 32.9 million tons worth €35.7 billion. The largest suppliers were Spain (12.1 million tons), the Netherlands (8.1 million tons), and Italy (2.8 million tons).
The biggest recipients were Germany (8.9 million tons, France (4.2 million tons - partially for reshipment) and the United Kingdom (3.2 million tons).
Intra-EU trade is a stable pillar of economic development in the EU fruit and vegetable sector with total EU production at 72.3 million tons (2018). An 'eat local' movement is being marked by 34.6 million tons of 72.3 million tons of production being consumed in the Member States of production and 32,9 million tons traded within the EU single market.
EU exports to worldwide markets - 5-year trend
2019 marked a new 5-year record in market value with a slight relaxation in EU exported volumes of fruit and vegetables with 4.8 million tons of EU fruit and vegetables exported worth €4.7 billion. Export volumes have been increasing 2018-2019 by 10% from 4.3 up to 4.8 million tons. It is hoped this is a move towards a progressive recovery after the 2014 Russian embargo.
Market closures and seasonal developments have impeded exports to the key European destinations across the European neighbourhood resulting in 33% of market losses in the past 5 years. In 2019 there was a slight relaxation, driven by destinations on the African continent and in the Middle East.