Fresh fruit and vegetable exports increased by 6.4% in value in the 8th month of 2022

Exports of fresh fruits and vegetables moved on positive territory in the first eight months of this year in relation to the same period of 2021 in value, according to data from ELSTAT, which were processed by the Association of Hellenic Enterprises Exporting Fruits, Vegetables and Juices INCOFRUIT – HELLAS.

Shipments recorded an increase of 6.4% in value in the first 8 months of 2022 reaching 926,337,640 euros compared to 870,803,299 euros in the first eight months of 2021 and by 6.3% compared to the same period of 2020 (871,485,520 euros ), which was a normal year in production with record exports in terms of quantity and value.

On the contrary, a decrease of 4.3% was noted by exports in the first eight months of this year in volume, which reached 1,098,301 tons against 1,147,237 tons in 2021 and a contraction of 10.5% compared to the first eight months of 2020 ( 1,227,671 tons).

Exports of vegetables in the eight months, while they decreased by 11.4% (170,992 tons) in volume compared to the same period in 2021 (193,009 tons), shrank by only 0.8% in value (144,768,436 in 2022 against 145,908. 212 euros in 2021) while compared to 2020, they shrank by 19.9% ​​in quantity (213,597 tons) and increased by 9.8% in value (131,860,937 euros).

Accordingly, the export of fruit recorded a decrease in volume compared to the same period of 2021 by 2.8% and amounted to 927,309 tons (954,229 tons in 2021). In value it increased by 7.8% and reached 781.6 million euros (724,895,087 euros in 2021) while compared to 2020 they decreased in quantity by 8.6% (1,227,671 tons) and increased in value by 5.7% (871,485,520 euros).

According to the same ELSTAT data processed by the Association, in the eight months of 2022 there is a deficit in the balance of agricultural products of 418.5 million euros, when in the same period in 2021 there was a surplus of 362.8 million euros.

“The reduced exports by 10.5% in volume compared to 2020 is justified by the under-consumption in the main markets, the lack of land workers which results in the entire production not being harvested on time, the increase in the cost of fertilizers, pesticides, the cost of energy and irrigation water but also of packaging-standardization and processing materials, to the cost of transportation due to the increase in fuel prices in Greece, which does not allow us to be competitive” the special advisor of Syndesmou, Giorgos Polychronakis and added “the increase in value by + 6.3% is due to the increase in the average price per exported product, according to the official data, which is increased by + 19%. (Strawberries lead by + 32%, kiwis +22%, peaches +24%, nectarines +11%) At the same time, however, production costs are estimated to exceed 35% on average, which means that the loss of income is much bigger”.

Imports

The increase in the imports of fresh fruits and vegetables in our country in the first eight months of the year compared to the same period last year was “jumpy” both in terms of value and volume. According to the data of the Association, in our country imports increased by 11.4% in volume (514,659 tons in 2022 – 462,086 tons in 2021) and by 38.3% in value (482,634,761 euros in 2022 – 390,965,970 in 2021).

As Mr. Polychronakis pointed out, through this trend there is a risk that “crops will be abandoned and the supply chain will be replaced by low-cost imported products from third countries that do not meet the requirements requested by European producers (plant-sanitary, social, quality standards, etc.) .a) if timely measures are not taken”.

The predictions for 2022

“The indications from the data so far show that the year will close with a negative sign in terms of exported quantities but with a positive one in terms of values” pointed out Mr. Polychronakis.

At the same time, he raised the alarm that some products will remain unharvested due to lack of demand “such as table grapes, apples, winter fruits and vegetables”.

According to him this is due “to the fact that there is reduced demand in the consumer markets, the loss of three destination countries for our products, the problems of the Egyptian market and the ban on the entry of means of transport from European Union countries into Russia and of course the lack of workers of land for their harvest” while as he adds “the only optimistic thing is their average selling price”.

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