Global Sour Cherry Market to Grow at a CAGR of +1.1% until 2035, Reaching $3.2B

IndexBox has just published a new report: World - Sour Cherries - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights.

The sour cherry market is set to experience steady growth, driven by rising global demand. Forecasts predict a consistent upward trend in both volume and value, with a CAGR of +1.1% for volume and +3.6% for value from 2024 to 2035.

Market Forecast

Driven by increasing demand for sour cherries worldwide, 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 2024 to 2035, which is projected to bring the market volume to 1.8M tons by the end of 2035.

In value terms, the market is forecast to increase with an anticipated CAGR of +3.6% for the period from 2024 to 2035, which is projected to bring the market value to $3.2B (in nominal wholesale prices) by the end of 2035.

Consumption

World's Consumption of Sour Cherries

In 2024, the amount of sour cherries consumed worldwide expanded slightly to 1.6M tons, increasing by 2.5% compared with the year before. Over the period under review, consumption recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. Over the period under review, global consumption attained the peak volume at 1.6M tons in 2022; afterwards, it flattened through to 2024.

The global sour cherry market size amounted to $2.1B in 2024, rising by 7.3% 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). Overall, consumption, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. As a result, consumption reached the peak level of $2.3B. From 2023 to 2024, the growth of the global market failed to regain momentum.

Consumption By Country

The countries with the highest volumes of consumption in 2024 were Russia (290K tons), Turkey (194K tons) and Poland (174K tons), with a combined 41% share of global consumption. Ukraine, Serbia, Iran, the United States, Uzbekistan and Hungary lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 43%.

From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of consumption, amongst the key consuming countries, was attained by Uzbekistan (with a CAGR of +6.7%), while consumption for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the United States ($464M), Russia ($306M) and Poland ($249M) were the countries with the highest levels of market value in 2024, together comprising 47% of the global market. Turkey, Iran, Serbia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Hungary lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 35%.

Among the main consuming countries, Uzbekistan, with a CAGR of +7.7%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to market size over the period under review, while market for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In 2024, the highest levels of sour cherry per capita consumption was registered in Serbia (22 kg per person), followed by Hungary (5.4 kg per person), Poland (4.6 kg per person) and Ukraine (4 kg per person), while the world average per capita consumption of sour cherry was estimated at 0.2 kg per person.

From 2013 to 2024, the average annual growth rate of the sour cherry per capita consumption in Serbia amounted to +1.9%. The remaining consuming countries recorded the following average annual rates of per capita consumption growth: Hungary (+0.2% per year) and Poland (-0.2% per year).

Production

World's Production of Sour Cherries

Global sour cherry production rose modestly to 1.6M tons in 2024, increasing by 2.7% on the year before. Over the period under review, production continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2018 with an increase of 16%. Global production peaked at 1.6M tons in 2022; afterwards, it flattened through to 2024. The general positive trend in terms output was largely conditioned by a relatively flat trend pattern of the harvested area and a relatively flat trend pattern in yield figures.

In value terms, sour cherry production reached $2.1B in 2024 estimated in export price. Overall, production, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2022 with an increase of 12% against the previous year. Over the period under review, global production reached the maximum level at $2.3B in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2024, production stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Production By Country

The countries with the highest volumes of production in 2024 were Russia (283K tons), Turkey (194K tons) and Poland (176K tons), with a combined 41% share of global production. Ukraine, Serbia, Iran, the United States, Uzbekistan and Hungary lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 44%.

From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of production, amongst the main producing countries, was attained by Uzbekistan (with a CAGR of +6.9%), while production for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Yield

In 2024, the global average sour cherry yield was estimated at 7 tons per ha, remaining stable against 2023 figures. Overall, the yield recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2018 with an increase of 11%. As a result, the yield reached the peak level of 7.2 tons per ha. From 2019 to 2024, the growth of the average sour cherry yield remained at a lower figure.

Harvested Area

In 2024, the global sour cherry harvested area was estimated at 225K ha, approximately reflecting the year before. Overall, the harvested area saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 with an increase of 4.9%. The global harvested area peaked at 228K ha in 2022; however, from 2023 to 2024, the harvested area failed to regain momentum.

Imports

World's Imports of Sour Cherries

In 2024, after three years of decline, there was significant growth in overseas purchases of sour cherries, when their volume increased by 8.3% to 48K tons. In general, imports, however, continue to indicate a noticeable curtailment. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2018 when imports increased by 34% against the previous year. As a result, imports reached the peak of 80K tons. From 2019 to 2024, the growth of global imports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, sour cherry imports skyrocketed to $93M in 2024. Over the period under review, imports, however, recorded a slight decrease. Global imports peaked at $114M in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2024, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Imports By Country

The purchases of the three major importers of sour cherries, namely Germany, Russia and Saudi Arabia, represented more than third of total import. Austria (2.7K tons) ranks next in terms of the total imports with a 5.6% share, followed by the Netherlands (5.3%) and Egypt (4.7%). Italy (2.1K tons), Romania (1.4K tons), Azerbaijan (1K tons) and Palestine (0.9K tons) took a minor share of total imports.

From 2013 to 2024, the biggest increases were recorded for Azerbaijan (with a CAGR of +58.5%), while purchases for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest sour cherry importing markets worldwide were Germany ($15M), Russia ($9.2M) and Saudi Arabia ($8.8M), with a combined 36% share of global imports. Italy, Egypt, the Netherlands, Austria, Palestine, Romania and Azerbaijan lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 22%.

In terms of the main importing countries, Azerbaijan, with a CAGR of +63.0%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices By Country

In 2024, the average sour cherry import price amounted to $1,933 per ton, increasing by 12% against the previous year. Over the last eleven years, it increased at an average annual rate of +2.2%. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2017 an increase of 22% against the previous year. Global import price peaked in 2024 and is expected to retain growth in years to come.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Italy ($2,605 per ton), while Azerbaijan ($1,000 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Palestine (+5.1%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Exports

World's Exports of Sour Cherries

In 2024, overseas shipments of sour cherries were finally on the rise to reach 45K tons for the first time since 2020, thus ending a three-year declining trend. In general, exports, however, saw a perceptible slump. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2015 when exports increased by 21% against the previous year. As a result, the exports attained the peak of 81K tons. From 2016 to 2024, the growth of the global exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, sour cherry exports skyrocketed to $78M in 2024. Over the period under review, exports, however, continue to indicate a perceptible contraction. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2017 with an increase of 33%. As a result, the exports attained the peak of $133M. From 2018 to 2024, the growth of the global exports failed to regain momentum.

Exports By Country

The biggest shipments were from Hungary (9.7K tons), Serbia (6.9K tons) and Spain (5.5K tons), together finishing at 49% of total export. Iran (3.1K tons) took the next position in the ranking, followed by Moldova (2.8K tons), Poland (2.4K tons) and Uzbekistan (2.3K tons). All these countries together held approx. 23% share of total exports. The following exporters - Bulgaria (1.8K tons), Lebanon (1.8K tons) and the Czech Republic (1.6K tons) - together made up 11% of total exports.

From 2013 to 2024, the biggest increases were recorded for Uzbekistan (with a CAGR of +87.3%), while shipments for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest sour cherry supplying countries worldwide were Spain ($17M), Hungary ($11M) and Serbia ($6.3M), together comprising 45% of global exports. Poland, Iran, Uzbekistan, Lebanon, Moldova, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 27%.

Uzbekistan, with a CAGR of +108.8%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, among the main exporting countries over the period under review, while shipments for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices By Country

The average sour cherry export price stood at $1,704 per ton in 2024, shrinking by -2.1% against the previous year. In general, the export price, however, recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2017 an increase of 33% against the previous year. The global export price peaked at $1,855 per ton in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2024, the export prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2024, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Spain ($3,121 per ton), while Moldova ($845 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Uzbekistan (+11.5%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.