Fruit and vegetable imports increased by 15.97% in the 10th month of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, according to data from the Association of Hellenic Companies Exporting, Trading Fruits, Vegetables and Juices INCOFRUIT-HELLAS.

The quantities that entered our country during this period amounted to 547.34 thousand tons against 471.95 thousand tons in 2022, with 74% of them coming from countries outside the “27” of the European Union.

According to the same data, compared to the first ten months of 2019, the year in which it was formed record with imports of 511,171 tons, in 2023 are expected up 7.1% due to the record number of tourist arrivals in our country.

“The importation of fresh fruits and vegetables shows the continuous growth of foreign competition both in our country and in the other community markets” the Association’s Special Adviser, Giorgos Polychronakis, said to the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency, stressing among other things that: “It is necessary that the foods that come from third countries to meet the same quality standards required for EU producers (farmers and breeders), with equal working conditions and the same use of plant protection products”.

Detailed imports based on the main products

* Potatoes: 191,218 tons in the first ten months of 2023 compared to 160,431 tons in 2022 (+19.2%) coming (based on 9-month ELSTAT data) by 77.5% from Egypt, Cyprus and France.

* Bananas: 190,588 tons in the ten months of 2023 against 172,354 tons in 2022 (10.6%), 91.3% coming from Ecuador. Next are Costa Rica and Guatemala.

* Onions: 25,262 tons in the 10th month of this year, compared to 6,575 tons last year (284.2%), with 40% coming from Egypt, followed by India and Austria.

* Tomatoes: 23,508 tons in the same period this year compared to 14,959 tons in 2022 (57.2%), 39.8% coming from Turkey, which is estimated only for the months of September-October at 6,500 tons, with m.o. 0.96 euros/kg. Poland and the Netherlands follow. According to the Association “the imported quantities already exceed the annual tomato imports of our country in the last six years”.

* Peppers: 4,864 tons of peppers/sweet peppers compared to 5,548 tons in 2022 (-12.3%) coming in 36.4% from the Netherlands, followed by Turkey and the Netherlands.

* Lemons: 22,543 tons in the first ten months of 2023 compared to 24,043 tons in 2022 (-6.2%), 43.4% coming from Argentina, followed by South Africa and Egypt.

* Apples: 8,650 tons in the first ten months of this year compared to 9,180 tons last year (-5.8%), 38.3% coming from Italy, followed by Poland and Germany.

* Anchovies: 1,961 tons in the period January-October 2023 against 1,635 tons in 2022 (+19.9%), 18.1% coming from Italy, followed by the Netherlands and Spain.

Imports increased by 35.56% in October alone

According to the data of INCOFRUIT-HELLAS, the Association of Greek Fruit, Vegetable and Juice Exporting Companies, imports this year in October increased by 35.56% compared to the same month of 2022.

Specifically, imported quantities amounted to 48,381 tons compared to 35,689 tons in 2022, with most of them found in bananas, with the increase amounting to 2.7% (18,556 tons in October 2023 – 18,068 tons in October 2022). Followed by potatoes with 11,552 tons compared to 7,100 tons last October (+62.7%), apples with 3,516 tons compared to 817 tons in October 2022 (+330%), tomatoes with 2,492 tons compared to 1,382 tons in October last year and lemons, with imports of 1,202 tons compared to 295 tons last year (+307%).

Finally, Mr. Polychronakis welcomed the “rejection of three loads of lemons imported from Turkey due to the excessive presence of pesticides, with the urge to intensify the activity of the competent Greek services, to control fresh fruits and vegetables circulating in our country”.