According to figures released by European trade body Freshfel Europe, export volumes of fresh fruit from the EU leapt by almost 12 per cent year on year to 2,843,010 tonnes - 21 per cent above the five-year average - while values fell sharply by more than seven per cent compared to 2008 to €1.9 billion (£1.65bn).
Freshfel delegate-general Philippe Binard said: “Combining these two figures, one should have a careful reading of the growth in volume given the lower returned value. EU exporters have remained handicapped by the high value of the euro on the external market as well as the lack of support mechanisms, such as export credit schemes and export refunds that the EU dismantled with the latest CMO reform. Looking at the value per kilo exported, it has decreased by 0.15 cents a kilo on average for fruit from 0.84c a kilo to 0.69c a kilo. This is an alarming situation.”
With regard to fruit exports, Russia remained by far the largest export market, accounting for 38 per cent of the overall exported volume, followed by other neighbouring countries of the EU such as the Ukraine (12.8 per cent), Switzerland (10.2 per cent) and Norway (6.4 per cent). Looking at the different fruit categories, apples remain by far the most exported fruit in 2009 with more than 1.1mt, and an increase in volume of 26 per cent between 2008 and 2009. Oranges are ranked second with 240,935t exported, followed closely by pears.
Binard said: “While the exported volume remained steady, mainly due to the demand on the Russian market for fruit, one should also look at the breakdown of the global EU volume. Indeed, some important variations occurred among the member states and by products. The growth in 2009 was mainly driven by the strong development of Polish apples to the Russian market, which has hidden the decline experienced by some other traditional exporting member states.”
Contrary to the increase of the fruit category, exports of vegetables to third countries witnessed a considerable decrease in 2009 by 7.68 per cent in volume and by 12.39 per cent in value from 2008. However, comparing the data from 2009 with the average of the previous five years, the figures suggest a substantial growth by volume (up by 12.72 per cent) and value (up by 9.65 per cent). The main trading partner of the EU for vegetable exports in 2009 was again Russia, accounting for 28.7 per cent of the overall volume, followed by Switzerland (10.6 per cent), Senegal (8.7 per cent) and Norway (6.2 per cent). The most exported vegetables were onions (679,973t), tomatoes and capsicum.
Willem Baljeu, chairman of Freshfel’s export division said: “Russia is the leading destination for EU fresh produce. EU exporters should, however, continue diversifying their markets and open new markets, particularly in Asia. Today China and India account for less than 5,000t of EU exports, when they represent one-third of the world population and two of the fastest growing markets. More effort needs still to be undertaken at EU level to move towards greater reciprocity in trade, to tackle technical barriers to trade and also look at some other important aspects such as competitiveness and promotion.”
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