UK: Vegetable imports from few selected countries

The UK imports fruit and vegetable produce from all over the world, but only exports to a few countries.

The fruit imported the most were bananas (30%) from South America, followed by apples (14%) from France and South Africa, oranges and tangerines (8%) and table grapes (7%).


Source: ITC Trade Map

One out of three fruits comes from South America - Costa Rica, Colombia and Dominican Republic in particular, followed by Ecuador and Brazil.

As regards the single countries, Spain is the main supplier with 16% which became the main orange exporter to the UK.

Countries of origin for UK fruit (2012)

Source: ITC Trade Map

Almost half (48%) of the vegetables imported by the UK in 2012 were potatoes and tomatoes (17%), followed by onions (14%), cauliflowers (8%), lettuce and peppers (7%), cucumbers (6%) and celery (3%).

Source: ITC Trade Map

The UK imports vegetables from only a few suppliers, mainly European, in fact 85% of imports come from the old continent. The main supplier is once again Spain (33%), followed by Holland (28%) and France (10%).

Countries of origin of UK vegetables (2012)

Source: ITC Trade Map

Exports
In 2012 the UK exported 449,674 tons of fresh produce - 77.3% were vegetables and 22.7% fruit.

As regards fruit, the UK re-exports produce mainly to Ireland (41%), Holland (26%) and France (12%).

Source: ITC Trade Map

Of the total exported, 29% were oranges (+15% in the last five years), followed by bananas and apples (15%, -24% and -18% respectively). Table grapes and pineapple exports also decreased (-13% and -9% respectively).

Source: ITC Trade Map

The main vegetable exported by the UK are potatoes (79%), followed by carrots, other root vegetables and onions at 5%, 4% and 3% respectively.

Source: ITC Trade Map

The UK mainly exports vegetables to Ireland and Spain (33% and 20% respectively), followed by Egypt (12%) and Russia (6%), which doubled their imports from the UK since 2008.