Dutch fruit and vegetable suppliers saw the value of their exports grow by 5 per cent to €9bn in 2008, according to marketing organisation Productschap Tuinbouw, despite adverse economic conditions and currency fluctuations.
Much of the increase was due to a higher volume of re-exported products, said the organisation, with citrus, exotics, juices, nuts and spice in particular contributing to the rise.
Germany and the UK continued to be the Netherlands' major markets for exported and re-exported fruit and vegetables, but Productshap Tuinbouw also reported growth in sales to countries in central and eastern Europe.
Total exports of horticultural products – including flowers, plants and bulbs – rose 2 per cent year-on-year to almost €16bn last year, while horticultural imports reached an estimated value of €8bn.
