German fresh fruit and vegetable imports continued to decline in this year's first half. But, after the sharp drop in recent years, that fall was limited to about three percent. Quantity-wise, at 4.2 million tons, Germany imported 650,000 tons fewer fresh fruit and vegetables in the first half of 2023. That will amount to 1.2 million tons less imports for the year.
The value picture is different. In the first six months of this year, fresh fruit and vegetable imports into Germany reached a value of €7.34 billion, according to the German Statistics Bureau. That is eight percent more than in the two previous years. The average price in 2023's first half was, thus, more than ten percent higher than in the same period last year. Large products, particularly bell peppers, and oranges, were priced much higher.
Fewer big products
All major fresh fruit and vegetable import products have shown a downward trend in Germany over the last few years. German banana imports, though, did not fall further this year, but compared to before, it was much smaller. Cucumber imports also remained stable in the first half of this year.
Germany imported even fewer tomatoes in 2023's first six months. The four percent drop is, however, not as bad as the 14% and nine percent decline in apple and orange imports, respectively. Bell pepper imports fell sharply, too, by 12%. Few products showed increased imports, most importantly, avocados and mangoes.
Again less from especially Spain and the Netherlands
Per country, the two largest - Spain and the Netherlands - are good for almost half the total together. Their deliveries to Germany again dropped significantly this year. Germany imported ten percent fewer fresh fruit and vegetables from Spain in the first half of this year. Compared to two years ago, that is 17% less. Imports from the Netherlands were down seven percent in 2023's first six months, which is as much as a quarter less than in 2021.
Imports from Italy were down too. But some countries are supplying more to Germany. The larger suppliers include South Africa, Morocco, and Peru. The sharp increase in German imports of Moroccan tomatoes is particularly striking. That has grown from 27,000 tons in the first half of 2021 to 40,000 tons last year and 43,000 tons in this year's first half.
The German source, the Statistisches Bundesambt (SBA), assumes the country of origin and not, like Eurostat, where the goods come from. The SBA's figures thus do not include re-exports via the Netherlands.
Click here for the background figures.
For more information:
Jan Kees Boon
Fruit and Vegetable Facts
Email: [email protected]
www.fruitandvegetablefacts.com