Increased by 50.2% were the imports of fruits and vegetables in our country in April, reaching 88,851 tons against 59,156 tons in the same month of 2023.

According to data from the Association of Greek Fruit, Vegetable and Juice Exporting and Trading Companies INCOFRUIT-HELLAS, the largest increase in imports was recorded in potatoes, reaching 44,590 tons (+102.5%) against 22,018 tons in April 2023.

Followed by apples with an increase of 344% (3,626 tons in April 2024 against 816 tons in April 2023), tomatoes with 89.9% (334 tons in April 2024 against 176 tons in April 2023) and oranges where the imports reached 413 tons against 125 tons last April.

As the Association’s Special Adviser, Giorgos Polychronakis, stated to the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency, “the import of fresh fruits and vegetables shows the continuous growth of foreign competition both in our country and in the other community markets”.

According to him, “the importation of fresh fruits and vegetables produced in our country in self-sufficiency with quantities that can cover domestic demand and whose excess is exported, recording year after year records in both quantities and values, is impressive” .

He emphasizes that all fruits arriving in our country from third countries should “meet the same quality standards required for EU producers” adding that “similar controls should also be carried out on shipped-exported fruit and vegetable products to ensure the reputation of the products which will contribute to the further increase of their exports”.

Imports in the first quarter of 2024

Imports have increased overall in the first quarter of 2024. According to the same data, the imported quantities of fruits and vegetables reached 321,705 tons compared to 242,314 tons in the corresponding period of 2023, increased by 32.76%.

Imports are structured as follows:

* 175,810 tons of potatoes against 112,601 tons in 2023 (+56.05%) coming from Egypt, France, Germany and Cyprus.

* 90,027 tons of bananas against 81,863 tons in 2023 (+9.97%) coming from Ecuador followed by Costa Rica and Colombia.

* 7,742 tons of onions, against 17,278 tons last year, down by -55.2%. The majority of imports come from the Netherlands, followed by Austria and Germany.

* 1,282 tons of tomatoes against 434 tons in 2023 (+ 195.4%) coming from Turkey and Spain.

* 1,934 tonnes of peppers/bell peppers versus 1,393 tonnes in 2023 (+38.8%) coming from Jordan, Israel and the Netherlands.

* 10,887 tons of apples compared to 3,071 last year, increased by +254.5%, coming from North Macedonia, followed by Poland and Italy.

* 2,085 tons of avocados compared to 1,002 tons last year (+108.1%) coming from the Netherlands, followed by Israel and Cyprus.

* 1,132 tonnes of kiwifruit compared to 144 tonnes last year (+686%) coming from Iran, followed by Italy and Spain

* 1,470 tons of oranges compared to 225 last year (+553%) coming mainly from Egypt and other countries follow with smaller quantities.

* 4,643 tons of mushrooms against 4,517 tons in 2023 (+2.8%) coming from Poland, followed by Romania and Italy.

Finally, as can be seen from the data of the Association, other fruits and vegetables were also imported such as zucchini, carrots, cabbages, lettuces and even radishes etc.