Dutch sales of fruit and vegetables abroad increased by four percent in the past year to € 11.9 billion. No less than eighty percent is sold within a radius of 1,000 kilometers. Ninety percent of sales remain in EU countries. In 2019, the Dutch fruit and vegetable sector once again proved to be a reliable partner for European retail, according to Groentenfruit Huis.
With a sum of € 4.3 billion, Germany leads the ranking on the market alone at this level. This is according to estimates 2019 that Fruit Vegetable House analysed on the basis of data from, among others, Eurostat. The United Kingdom and Belgium follow in second and third places. The strongest growth can be seen in Poland. The Dutch sales turnover increased by 18 percent here. It mainly concerned more onions, tomatoes and peppers. Sales in France (+ 6%), Denmark (+ 7%) and Italy (+ 12%) also recorded good growth figures. Sales to the United Kingdom (-1%) and Sweden (-2%) lagged slightly behind 2018.
The higher Dutch export turnover of fruit and vegetables in 2019 is mainly due to onions, tomatoes, peppers, avocados, bananas and blueberries. Tomatoes lead the export ranking with a big lead, followed by peppers and avocados.
Higher production value for Dutch product
Regionally, 2019 is characterised by large differences and an irregular Dutch production season for various crops. These can partly be explained by drought, a heat record and the wet autumn. The total Dutch production value of fresh fruit and vegetables increased by 7 percent in the past year to € 3.7 billion, with vegetable sales increasing and the production value of fruit being lower than in 2018.
Combination of import and export strong asset
The Netherlands plays an important role within Europe as an importer of fresh fruit. Of all EU countries, the Netherlands, with a share of thirty percent, is the most important importer of fruit from outside the EU. The top 3 most imported products, expressed in turnover, are grapes, bananas and avocados. The import value of fresh fruit and vegetables increased by 3 percent to € 7.9 billion. It is precisely the combination of Dutch products with imported products that ensures the strong position of the Dutch sector, according to Groentenfruit Huis.
The Netherlands offers a complete high-quality range all year round.
For more information:
GroentenFruit Huis
T: +31 (0)79 368 11 00
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