Ceepackaging

Analysis

Production of fruit and vegetables increasing

Production figures for both fruit and vegetables have steadily increased over the past few years. Apple production in the Northern Hemisphere increased in 2011, while citrus fruit production remained at the previous year’s figures. Melons are the most frequently harvested fruit, followed by bananas. Together they account for a volume of 100 million tonnes. Equally important are apples, grapes and oranges with a harvest of around 70 million tonnes. Together, the five most important fruit varieties make up 60% of the total harvest. The spectrum is more varied for vegetables with the five leading varieties (tomatoes, onions, cabbage, cucumbers and aubergines) accounting for only about 45% of total production. Around 10% of the worldwide production of key fruit varieties is traded internationally. For fresh vegetables, this figure is only 3-4%.

The EU is the world’s leading import region for fresh fruit. For fresh vegetables this is only the case if trade between EU countries is also taken into account, otherwise the U.S. leads the way. Russian imports, which increased significantly in the 2010/11 season, are likely to decline again in the 2011/12 season. The reason for this lies in larger domestic harvests. The EU fruit crop increased by more than 5% in 2011 to around 37 million tonnes. Larger harvests of stone and pome fruit offset a slight decline in citrus fruit production. Vegetable production in the EU is expected to reach 63 million tonnes in 2011, some 3% more than the previous year. The record-breaking onion crop (5.7 million tonnes, +19%) played an important part in the increase.

Fruit production in the German market increased in 2011 by 6% to total 1.23 million tonnes. This figure, however is lower than in previous years. Late frosts in May prevented a full swing back to a bumper crop following the previous year’s meagre harvest. Strawberry production lagged behind 2010 figures. The production of market vegetables increased by 7% to 3.59 million tonnes and almost reached the record set in 2009. The vegetable market in Germany and Europe suffered for months from the impact of the E. coli crisis that resulted in losses estimated at several million Euros for vegetable growers.

German imports of fresh vegetables are likely to reach 3 million tonnes in 2011, which is 3-4% lower than the record set in 2010. Last year’s stagnating imports of fresh fruit decreased slightly to 4.9 million tonnes.

According to AMI estimates, approximately 2,300 wholesale companies generated sales of EUR 20 billion in fresh fruit, vegetables and potatoes in 2010. This figure declined in 2011, primarily as a result of price-related factors. The E. coli crisis in May/June 2011 also resulted in lost revenue. Nevertheless, sales are expected to surpass the EUR 19.5 billion threshold.