More consumption of tropical fruit, but production of pears and kiwis falls
Climate change and plant diseases have affected many traditional crops. On the other hand, demand for exotic products is booming: first and foremost the avocado. Black year for walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds
3' min read
3' min read
The predisposition of the fruit and vegetable sector to imports is slowing down, even if the loss of competitiveness - aggravated by climate change and plant diseases - is manifested through some symbolic products of the Italian system (pears, citrus fruits, kiwis). In the meantime, the demand from abroad for increasingly consolidated products in the ISTAT basket, such as avocados, whose imports grew by 8.81%, is strengthening.
ISTAT data (reprocessed by Fruitimprese) for the sector in the first half of 2024, record 1.8 million tonnes of exports for 2.8 billion euros: in percentage terms this is a trend growth of 5% in volume and 3% in value. Imports keep pace with quantities, which are 3.8% higher than in the first half of 2023 and 5.2% higher in value: the trade balance is positive by EUR 31.5 million, although 63.5% lower than in the same period of 2023.
The analysis of the individual types reveals a composite picture. The practically stable values (+0.4%) of exported tubers, pulses and vegetables - for example - tell us of a great loss in terms of product price, since exported quantities grew by 11.4% compared to the first half of '23. The same is true for citrus fruit (+12.6% in volumes, + 5.2% in values).
In the fresh fruit segment, on the other hand, it is the low availability (-2.9%) of some goods that is keeping values high (+5.5%). And while dried fruit is at its lowest level in 15 years (-10.3% in volumes and - 2.2% in values), tropical fruit is posting yet another exploit (+28.7% and +18.3%).
Oranges and apples are confirmed as the champions of our exports (the latter with stable volumes, but values up by 10.93%), while kiwis and pears continue to lose position in the ranking of export products, victims of a heavy production crisis. While maintaining an exported value slightly below last year (275.1 million euro, -2.9%), they lose almost a third of their exported quantities. Pear exports also fell further, standing at just over 10 thousand tonnes, halving further compared to the first six months of 2023.
