The eastern part of the European Union (EU) has been witnessing an uptick in fruit and vegetable imports, outpacing the import rates of the older EU member states. According to Andriy Yarmak, FAO Economist, during an online training session for Egyptian and Moroccan exporters, there's a noticeable shift in import dynamics within the EU. Specifically, nations like Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the Baltic states have seen their fruit and vegetable imports grow by about 2% annually. In contrast, the traditional markets in the older EU states are experiencing a decline in their imports, decreasing by more than 1% each year.
This trend underscores a burgeoning market opportunity in Eastern Europe, which boasts approximately 111 million consumers with cohesive consumption patterns. The region's economic indicators, particularly in countries like Poland and Romania, are poised to outperform both the global and EU averages, with imports including a wide array of produce such as citrus fruits, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and sweet peppers. Notably, there's a surge in demand for products like avocados, sweet potatoes, watermelons, and berries.
Egypt and Morocco, having already made inroads into the Eastern European market, stand to capitalize further on this opportunity. The forthcoming FAO/EBRD trade mission in Warsaw, Poland, aims to connect Egyptian and Moroccan suppliers with key buyers from Eastern Europe, potentially unlocking new avenues for trade and collaboration.
Source: East Fruit