Apricot Market in the EU - Key Insights

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

The revenue of the apricot market in the European Union amounted to $930M in 2017, shrinking by -9.4% 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 apricot consumption continues to indicate a mild deduction. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2013, when the market value increased by 23% against the previous year. In that year, the apricot market attained its peak level of $1.3B. From 2014 to 2017, the growth of the apricot market remained at a lower figure.

Production in the EU

In 2017, approx. 780K tonnes of apricots were produced in the European Union; rising by 17% against the previous year. The total output volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.7% over the period from 2007 to 2017; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations throughout the analyzed period.

Apricot Exports

Exports in the EU

In 2017, exports of apricots in the European Union totaled 237K tonnes, going up by 29% against the previous year. The total exports indicated a prominent increase from 2007 to 2017: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +7.9% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, apricot exports amounted to $311M (IndexBox estimates) in 2017. The total export value increased at an average annual rate of +2.9% from 2007 to 2017; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Over the period under review, apricot exports attained their peak figure at $348M in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2017, exports failed to regain their momentum.

Exports by Country

In 2017, Spain (89K tonnes), distantly followed by France (56K tonnes), Italy (45K tonnes) and Greece (25K tonnes) were the major exporters of apricots, together achieving 90% of total exports. The Netherlands (4.5K tonnes) held the minor share of total exports.

From 2007 to 2017, the most notable rate of growth in terms of exports, amongst the main exporting countries, was attained by Italy (+14.4% per year), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Spain ($123M), France ($84M) and Italy ($56M) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2017, together comprising 84% of total exports.

Export Prices by Country

In 2017, the apricot export price in the European Union amounted to $1.3 per kg, shrinking by -21.7% against the previous year. The the apricot export price continues to indicate a deep downturn. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2013, when it surged by 31% against the previous year. The level of export price peaked at $2.4 per kg in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2017, export prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Export prices varied noticeably by the country of destination; the country with the highest export price was France ($1.5 per kg), while Greece ($669 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2007 to 2017, the most notable rate of growth in terms of export prices was attained by Spain (-2.5% per year), while the other leaders experienced a decline in the export price figures.

Apricot Imports

Imports in the EU

In 2017, the amount of apricots imported in the European Union totaled 208K tonnes, jumping by 22% against the previous year. The total imports indicated a strong increase from 2007 to 2017: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +6.3% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, apricot imports stood at $291M (IndexBox estimates) in 2017. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +2.3% from 2007 to 2017; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. In that year, apricot imports reached their peak of $355M. From 2014 to 2017, the growth of apricot imports failed to regain its momentum.

Imports by Country

In 2017, Germany (70K tonnes) was the key importer for apricots, mixed up 34% of total imports. Italy (22K tonnes) occupied the second position in the ranking, followed by France (19K tonnes), Austria (17K tonnes), Poland (12K tonnes) and the UK (12K tonnes). All these countries together took near 40% share of total imports. Belgium (8.5K tonnes), the Czech Republic (6.7K tonnes), the Netherlands (6.2K tonnes), Romania (4.9K tonnes), Portugal (3.5K tonnes) and Bulgaria (3.3K tonnes) occupied the weak share of total imports.

From 2007 to 2017, average annual rates of growth with regard to apricot imports into Germany stood at +7.1%. At the same time, Austria (+12.7%), Poland (+11.3%), the Czech Republic (+9.8%), France (+7.7%), Romania (+7.4%), Bulgaria (+6.7%), the UK (+5.3%), Portugal (+3.2%), Belgium (+2.9%) and Italy (+1.0%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Austria emerged as the fastest growing importer in the European Union, with a CAGR of +12.7% from 2007-2017. The Netherlands experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. From 2007 to 2017, the share of the Czech Republic, the UK, Poland, France, Austria and Germany decreased by -2%, -2.3%, -3.9%, -4.7%, -5.8% and -16.7% percentage points, while the shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Germany ($109M) constitutes the largest market for imported apricots in the European Union, comprising 37% of global imports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by France ($27M), with a 9.3% share of global imports. It was followed by the UK, with a 8.3% share.

Import Prices by Country

The apricot import price in the European Union stood at $1.4 per kg in 2017, reducing by -19.7% against the previous year. The the apricot import price continues to indicate a perceptible decline.

There were significant differences in the average import prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2017, the country with the highest import price was the UK ($2 per kg), while Bulgaria ($515 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2007 to 2017, the most notable rate of growth in terms of import prices was attained by Romania (+1.9% per year), while the other leaders experienced a decline in the import price figures.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform