According to the latest figures of the Hellenic Statistical Office of Greece (ELSTAT), processed by the Association of Greek Fruit, Vegetable and Juice Exporting Companies (INCOFRUIT Hellas), the country's fresh fruit and vegetable exports in January-February 2018 increased by 14.5% in terms of volume compared to the corresponding period of 2017, reaching 268,903 tonnes, and by about 20% in terms of value, reaching 175.86 million Euro, as reported by the RES-EIA.
According to the Association's special advisor, Georgios Polychronakis, vegetable exports increased significantly in the first two months of this year, reaching 44,681 tonnes (+32.9%). In terms of value, these recorded a 6.74% drop compared to the previous year, falling to 31.48 million Euro, however, this did not negatively affect the overall positive picture for fruit and veg.
Fruit exports increased by 11.4% in terms of volume and by 28% in terms value and stood at 224,222 tonnes and 144.38 million Euro in the first two months of this year compared to the same period of 2017.
A decisive factor for Greece's positive export performance in the first two months of this year, according to Mr Polychronakis, has been the bad weather conditions in rival countries, where the crops have been hit.
"The high quality of the Greek production, together with the greater volume, has led to the aforementioned positive results for our country," he underlined.
Fresh fruit and vegetable imports have also recorded a positive development. In the first two months of this year, compared with the same period of 2017, they have fallen in terms of both volume and value, thus contributing to the reduction of the trade deficit.
According to the ELSTAT figures, in the first two months of this year, imports of fruit and vegetables into Greece recorded a 16.3% drop in terms of volume and amounted to 103,015 tonnes, compared to 123,139 tonnes in the first two months of 2017. In terms of value, there was a decline of 13.1%, down to 86.805 million, compared to 99.849 million in 2017.
Source: patrasevents.gr