EU Strawberry Market Reached $3.8B and Is Set to Continue Moderate Growth

IndexBox has just published a new report: 'EU - Strawberries - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights'. Here is a summary of the report's key findings.

The revenue of the strawberry market in the European Union amounted to $3.8B in 2018, rising by 1.9% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). The market value increased at an average annual rate of +2.1% from 2007 to 2018; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations over the period under review. Strawberry consumption peaked in 2018 and is expected to retain its growth in the near future.

Consumption By Country

The countries with the highest volumes of strawberry consumption in 2018 were Germany (233K tons), Poland (203K tons) and the UK (183K tons), together comprising 51% of total consumption. Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, Romania, Greece, Portugal, Austria and Sweden lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 39%.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of strawberry consumption, amongst the main consuming countries, was attained by Greece, while strawberry consumption for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Germany ($819M), the UK ($792M) and Italy ($360M) were the countries with the highest levels of market value in 2018, together comprising 52% of the total market. Poland, France, Spain, Romania, Belgium, Sweden, Austria, Portugal and Greece lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 36%.

The countries with the highest levels of strawberry per capita consumption in 2018 were Poland (5,315 kg per 1000 persons), Belgium (2,900 kg per 1000 persons) and Germany (2,844 kg per 1000 persons).

Market Forecast to 2030

Driven by increasing demand for strawberry in the European Union, the market is expected to continue an upward consumption trend over the next decade. Market performance is forecast to retain its current trend pattern, expanding with an anticipated CAGR of +1.1% for the period from 2018 to 2030, which is projected to bring the market volume to 1.4M tons by the end of 2030.

Production in the EU

In 2018, approx. 1.3M tons of strawberries were produced in the European Union; standing approx. at the previous year. The total output volume increased at an average annual rate of +1.6% over the period from 2007 to 2018; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations in certain years. In 2015, strawberry production reached its peak volume of 1.4M tons but from 2016 to 2018 it failed to regain its momentum. The general positive trend in terms of strawberry output was largely conditioned by a mild expansion of the harvested area and measured growth in yield figures.

Production By Country

The countries with the highest volumes of strawberry production in 2018 were Spain (345K tons), Poland (196K tons) and Germany (142K tons), together accounting for 54% of total production. The UK, Italy, the Netherlands and Greece lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 29%.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of strawberry production, amongst the main producing countries, was attained by Greece, while strawberry production for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Harvested Area

In 2018, approx. 103K ha of strawberries were harvested in the European Union; reducing by -1.7% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the strawberry harvested area continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2013 with an increase of 9.6% against the previous year. In that year, the strawberry harvested area attained its peak level of 111K ha. From 2014 to 2018, the growth of the strawberry harvested area failed to regain its momentum.

Yield

The average strawberry yield stood at 12 ton per ha in 2018, flattening at the previous year. The yield figure increased at an average annual rate of +2.1% from 2007 to 2018; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with only minor fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period.

Exports in the EU

In 2018, the amount of strawberries exported in the European Union totaled 476K tons, coming down by -3.8% against the previous year. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.3% from 2007 to 2018; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded over the period under review. Over the period under review, strawberry exports reached their maximum at 515K tons in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2018, exports remained at a lower figure. In value terms, strawberry exports totaled $1.3B (IndexBox estimates) in 2018.

Exports by Country

Spain represented the main exporter of strawberries exported in the European Union, with the volume of exports amounting to 279K tons, which was approx. 59% of total exports in 2018. The Netherlands (70K tons) ranks second in terms of the total exports with a 15% share, followed by Belgium (9.5%) and Greece (6.2%). Italy (14K tons), Germany (12K tons) and France (11K tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

Exports from Spain increased at an average annual rate of +2.7% from 2007 to 2018. At the same time, Greece (+19.9%), the Netherlands (+6.2%) and Belgium (+1.3%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Greece emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in the European Union, with a CAGR of +19.9% from 2007-2018. Germany experienced a relatively flat trend pattern with regard to strawberry exports. By contrast, Italy (-2.2%) and France (-7.2%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. From 2007 to 2018, the share of Spain, the Netherlands and Greece increased by +15%, +7.1% and +5.3% percentage points, while France (-2.8 p.p.) saw their share reduced. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Spain ($694M) remains the largest strawberry supplier in the European Union, comprising 52% of total strawberry exports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by the Netherlands ($261M), with a 19% share of total exports. It was followed by Belgium, with a 13% share.

Export Prices by Country

The strawberry export price in the European Union stood at $2,810 per ton in 2018, picking up by 2.9% against the previous year. In general, the strawberry export price continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. Over the period under review, the export prices for strawberries attained their peak figure at $3,298 per ton in 2011; however, from 2012 to 2018, export prices remained at a lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2018, the country with the highest price was Belgium ($4,000 per ton), while Greece ($1,385 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by France, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Imports in the EU

In 2018, the amount of strawberries imported in the European Union stood at 428K tons, falling by -8.1% against the previous year. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2012 when imports increased by 13% against the previous year. In that year, strawberry imports attained their peak of 471K tons. From 2013 to 2018, the volume of strawberry imports remained at a lower figure. In value terms, strawberry imports amounted to $1.3B (IndexBox estimates) in 2018.

Imports by Country

In 2018, Germany (103K tons), distantly followed by the UK (52K tons), France (47K tons), Italy (36K tons), Belgium (35K tons), the Netherlands (27K tons) and Portugal (20K tons) were the largest importers of strawberries, together mixing up 75% of total imports. The following importers - Spain (15K tons), Austria (14K tons), Poland (13K tons), the Czech Republic (13K tons) and Sweden (7.6K tons) - together made up 15% of total imports.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of imports, amongst the main importing countries, was attained by Poland, while imports for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest strawberry importing markets in the European Union were Germany ($281M), the UK ($204M) and France ($173M), together accounting for 49% of total imports. These countries were followed by Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic, which together accounted for a further 41%.

Import Prices by Country

In 2018, the strawberry import price in the European Union amounted to $3,141 per ton, picking up by 12% against the previous year. Over the last decade, it increased at an average annual rate of +2.1%.

Prices varied noticeably by the country of destination; the country with the highest price was Sweden ($4,036 per ton), while Portugal ($2,113 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Austria, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform