The Netherlands increases imports of fruits in the first half of 2021

Which fresh fruits are leading the import trend?
The main trending products in the Dutch fresh fruit and nut import structure were fresh grapes, avocados, bananas, and Vaccinium berries. These categories showed a solid growth both in the value and quantities in the first half of 2021. Most of the tropical and subtropical fruits were also consolidating their positions. The exotic category (tamarind, jackfruit, lychees, passion fruit, and others), as well as grapefruits, demonstrated a moderate increase in the value and volume of imports. Lemons and limes were on the other side of the trend, as Dutch traders bought a lesser amount of these citruses in the first six months of 2021 than in the same period of 2020, resulting in lower import value.

Grapes. Fresh grapes showed the biggest rise in imports value, exceeding $850 million in the half of 2021, 22% more than in the first half of 2020. The quantities also increased significantly. According to the ITC trade map, the Netherlands imported more than 345,300 tons of table grapes in January-June 2021, showing a 21% year-on-year increase. Given the fact that the average volume of grape imports was over 100,000 tons in the last 6 years, imports may rise to 450,000 tons in 2021.

An increase in import value is attributed to lower EU grape production in the 2020/2021 marketing year, with adverse weather conditions affecting vineyards in Italy in March 2020, the biggest grape producer of the block. According to USDA, the grape harvest in 2020/2021 was estimated at 1.4 million tons, which is 12% less than in 2019/2020. It is worth adding that the EU grape production has been gradually plummeting since the 2016/2017 season when the harvest was 1.78 million tons. Given the fact that consumption in the EU remains at a high level, import volumes of grape imports will be gradually increasing in the next few years.

In 2020, the Netherlands was responsible for 70% of the total EU imports of all the grapes from third countries. Despite international trade disruption caused by COVID, high container rates, grape exporters managed to keep the volumes high in the first half of 2021. The main suppliers of table grapes to the Netherlands in the mentioned period were South Africa, India, Peru, Egypt, and Chile.

Vaccinium berries. This category represents cranberries, bilberries, and blueberries. It demonstrates one of the highest rates of import growth in the Netherlands. The worth of Vaccinium berries imports was $333.2 million in the first half of 2021, which is $67 million or 25% more than the last year’s number. The quantity figure rose by 11% year on year. Numerous health benefits of the berries, which have become even more important during the COVID, have been supporting robust demand on the EU markets.

In the first half of 2021, the main exporters of Vaccinium berries to the Netherlands were Chile (54%), Spain (20%), and Peru (10%). The latter ships most of the fruits to the Netherlands in September-December, when the blueberry season is in full swing. Therefore, the full export capacity of Peruvian blueberries is better reflected on the yearly export chart. Chile’s exports of blueberries reach their peak in December-February. A 0% tariff rate for blueberry export helps both South American suppliers to increase their presence on the EU markets.

Source: Tridge

Citruses. Each fruit in this group, represented by oranges, lemons and limes, and grapefruits, showed different tendencies. The value of orange imports to the Netherlands in January-June 2021 was $182 million, which is only 1% more than last year, whereas volumes remained at the same level at 244,200 tons. Higher orange production in Spain in the 2020/2021 season helped to slow down the high pace of Dutch imports to some extent. Egypt accounted for 64% of total Netherlands’s orange imports in the first half of 2021. South Africa accounted only for 6% of the total deliveries, due to a low production season.

According to the ITC Trade map, the value of lemon and lime imports to the Netherlands fell to $117 million in the first six months of 2021 from $155 million in the same period of 2020. This reflected a decrease in the imported volumes, which shrank to 100,000 tons in January-June 2021, 40,000 tons less than last year. Sluggish imports were amid a record crop in Spain in 2020/2021, which is estimated at 1.34 million tons. However, the situation may change 180 degrees in the second half of 2021, as Spanish production is estimated to fall by 11% in the 2021/2022 season. This can boost imports of this citrus from non-EU countries to offset the production decrease on the EU market.

Sources:

Fresh Apples, Grapes, and Pears:World Markets and Trade
Citrus Semi-annual
2019: more than 90% of Dutch fresh fruit exports were overseas product
GLOBAL OVERVIEW LEMONS
Acces2Markets, European Commission
Tridge.com