Fruits and vegetables: imports up 50.2% in April

Imports of fruits and vegetables into our country increased by 50.2% in April, reaching 88,851 tons compared to 59,156 tons in the same month of 2023.

According to the Association of Greek companies exporting fruits, vegetables and juices INCOFRUIT-HELLAS, the largest increase in imports was recorded for potatoes and amounted to 44,590 tons (+102.5%) compared to 22,018 tons in April 2023. This is followed by apples with an increase of 344% (3626 tons in April 2024 versus 816 tons in April 2023), tomatoes with 89.9% (334 tons in April 2024 versus 176 tons in April 2023) and oranges, where imports reached 413 tons versus 125 tons in April last year.

Fruits and vegetables: Imports increased by 20.19% in the first two months of 2024. As the special adviser to the association, Georgios Polychronakis, said, “the import of fresh fruits and vegetables indicates a constant increase in foreign competition both in our country and in the markets of other countries.” According to him, “the import of fresh fruits and vegetables into our country sets records year after year, both in quantity and in value.” The expert also emphasizes that all fruits coming into our country from third countries, must “meet the same quality standards required of manufacturers in EU“, adding that “similar controls should also be carried out in respect of shipped-exported fruits and vegetables.”

Imports generally increased in the first quarter of 2024. According to the same data, the import volume of fruits and vegetables reached 321,705 tons compared to 242,314 tons in the corresponding period of 2023, an increase of 32.76%. The import is structured as follows:

• 175,810 tons of potatoes came from Egypt, France, Germany and Cyprus versus 112,601 tons in 2023 (+56.05%).
• 90,027 tons of bananas versus 81,863 tons in 2023 (+9.97%) came from Ecuador, followed by Costa Rica and Colombia.
• 7,742 tons of onions were received compared to 17,278 tons last year. There was a decrease of -55.2%. Most imports come from the Netherlands, followed by Austria and Germany.
• 1,282 tons of tomatoes came from Turkey and Spain versus 434 tons in 2023 (+195.4%).
• 1,934 tonnes of pepper/bell pepper, up from 1,393 tonnes in 2023 (+38.8%), came from Jordan, Israel and the Netherlands.
• 10,887 tons of apples compared to 3,071 tons last year. Imports increased by +254.5%. The apples came from North Macedonia, Poland and Italy.
• 2085 tons of avocados, up from 1002 tons last year (+108.1%), came from the Netherlands, Israel and Cyprus.
• 1132 tons of kiwifruit compared to 144 tons last year (+686%) came from Iran, Italy and Spain.
• 1,470 tons of oranges were received in smaller quantities compared to 225 last year (+553%). Citrus fruits came mainly from Egypt and other countries.
• 4,643 tons of mushrooms came from Poland versus 4,517 tons in 2023 (+2.8%), as well as Romania and Italy.

As can be seen from the data provided by the association, other fruits and vegetables were also imported to Greece, such as zucchini, carrots, cabbage, lettuce and even radishes, etc.

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