Spain and Italy Firmly Expand Apricot Exports

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

The global apricot market rose slightly to $5B in 2021, growing by 4.9% 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). Over the period under review, consumption continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2011 when the market value increased by 17% y-o-y. Global consumption peaked at $5.5B in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, consumption remained at a lower figure. 

Apricot Consumption by Country

The countries with the highest volumes of apricot consumption in 2021 were Turkey (840K tons), Uzbekistan (523K tons) and Iran (332K tons), together accounting for 43% of global consumption.

From 2007 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of apricot consumption, amongst the leading consuming countries, was attained by Uzbekistan, while apricot consumption for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Turkey ($1.1B), Uzbekistan ($542M) and Iran ($397M) were the countries with the highest levels of market value in 2021, with a combined 40% share of the global market. Italy, France, Algeria, Pakistan, Greece, Morocco, Egypt, Russia, Afghanistan and Ukraine lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 30%.

The countries with the highest levels of apricot per capita consumption in 2021 were Uzbekistan (15 kg per person), Turkey (9.86 kg per person) and Greece (9.54 kg per person).

From 2007 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of apricot per capita consumption, amongst the key consuming countries, was attained by Uzbekistan, while apricot per capita consumption for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Apricot Production

In 2021, the volume of apricots produced worldwide expanded slightly to 3.9M tons, picking up by 4.3% against 2020 figures. The total output volume increased at an average annual rate of +1.1% over the period from 2007 to 2021.

In value terms, apricot production rose to $4.8B in 2021 estimated in export prices. Overall, production recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2011 when the production volume increased by 16% y-o-y. Global production peaked at $5.6B in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, production remained at a lower figure.

Production by Country

The countries with the highest volumes of apricot production in 2021 were Turkey (840K tons), Uzbekistan (533K tons) and Iran (332K tons), together accounting for 44% of global production.

From 2007 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of apricot production, amongst the key producing countries, was attained by Uzbekistan, while apricot production for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Apricot Exports

Global apricot exports declined sharply to 281K tons in 2021, which is down by -15.2% against the previous year. In general, total exports indicated moderate growth from 2007 to 2021: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.7% over the last fourteen-year period. 

In value terms, supplies fell slightly to $463M in 2021. The total export value increased at an average annual rate of +2.7% over the period from 2007 to 2021.

Exports by Country

In 2021, Spain (97K tons) represented the key exporter of apricots, making up 35% of total volume. Italy (31K tons) occupied the second position in the ranking, followed by Afghanistan (21K tons), Greece (17K tons), South Africa (15K tons) and France (14K tons). All these countries together held approx. 35% share of total exports. Uzbekistan (9.6K tons), Kyrgyzstan (9K tons), Jordan (7.5K tons), Moldova (6.5K tons), the U.S. (6.4K tons), Lebanon (5.8K tons) and Armenia (5.3K tons) held a little share of total exports.

In value terms, Spain ($197M) remains the largest apricot supplier worldwide, comprising 43% of global exports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by Italy ($67M), with a 14% share of global exports. It was followed by France, with an 8.2% share.

From 2007 to 2021, the average annual rate of growth in terms of value in Spain amounted to +11.7%. The remaining exporting countries recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Italy (+8.3% per year) and France (-7.8% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The average apricot export price stood at $1,648 per ton in 2021, growing by 18% against the previous year. Prices varied noticeably by the country of origin; the country with the highest price was France ($2,738 per ton), while Kyrgyzstan ($428 per ton) was amongst the lowest. From 2007 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Armenia, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Apricot Imports

In 2021, overseas purchases of apricots decreased by -1.3% to 316K tons, falling for the fourth consecutive year after two years of growth. Overall, total imports indicated temperate growth from 2007 to 2021: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.6% over the last fourteen years. 

In value terms, apricot imports expanded sharply to $496M in 2021. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +2.9% over the period from 2007 to 2021.

Imports by Country

In 2021, Russia (49K tons) and Germany (47K tons) represented the key importers of apricots in the world, together comprising 30% of total volume. It was distantly followed by Kazakhstan (25K tons), Iraq (19K tons), France (19K tons) and Italy (14K tons), together achieving a 24% share of total imports. Austria (12K tons), Saudi Arabia (12K tons), Switzerland (10K tons), Pakistan (10K tons), Poland (7.9K tons), the UK (6.5K tons) and Romania (6.2K tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

In value terms, Germany ($113M) constitutes the largest market for imported apricots worldwide, comprising 23% of global imports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by Russia ($56M), with a 11% share of total purchases. It was followed by France, with a 7.7% share.

In Germany, apricot imports expanded at an average annual rate of +2.5% over the period from 2007-2021. The remaining importing countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Russia (+3.6% per year) and France (+6.1% per year).

Import Prices by Country

The average apricot import price stood at $1,572 per ton in 2021, picking up by 13% against the previous year. Prices varied noticeably by the country of destination; the country with the highest price was Switzerland ($3,038 per ton), while Pakistan ($296 per ton) was amongst the lowest. From 2007 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Romania, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform