In the first six months of 2014 the Norwegian import of fresh fruits and vegetables in amounts has remained the same to that in the first six months of 2013. However, the value was 7% lower. The import from the Netherlands (excluding re-export) was 10% less in amount. The value of the import of Dutch product remained the same in the first half of 2014 compared to that of the year before.
Over the last few years the total import of both fresh vegetable and fresh fruit has been growing (in amount) steadily. In 2013 350,000 tonnes of fresh fruit was imported and 130,000 tonnes of fresh vegetables. The Norwegian production of both vegetables and fruit shows a lightly declining trend. The Norwegians produce around 150,000 tonnes of vegetables and 25,000 tonnes of fruit.
0.8 billion Euro market
The Norwegian market of fresh fruits and vegetables is worth an import of 0.8 billion Euro annually. Norway has a lot of suppliers. Spain is the most important and the Netherlands is the second with an import value of almost 50 million Euro of Dutch product in 2013. Including re-export the Netherlands exported a value of 270 million Euro to Norway last year. Italy and Costa Rica are close behind the Netherlands at place three and four. The import from Italy shows a slightly decreasing trend over the last few years but there was a stabilisation in the first half of this year. Costa Rica was able sell a lot more of mainly bananas in Norway. Of the most important suppliers Chile did well with a growth of 9% in the first half of this year. Especially the import of Chilean apples went well. South Africa had to reduce, especially less grapes and pears were sold in Norway. Whether through the Netherlands or not.
Mainly fruit
Bananas are the main import product by far in Norway. Last year the 80,000 tonne mark was passed. In the first half of this year it increased by another 5%. What was striking in the first six months was the shift from Ecuadorian product (-23%) to that from Costa Rica (+51%). Apples are the second import product annual amounts of around 50,000 tonnes. In the first six months the import remained at the same level. Italy is by far the main supplier. In the first six months Italy was able to supply 7% more apples to Norway than in the first six months of 2013. The import from Chile recovered from the decrease in 2013. Dutch apples don't go to Norway much but the re-export of a reasonable size: 4,200 tonnes in 2013. There was a decrease of over 30% in the first half of the year.
A small 40,000 tonnes of oranges are imported. There was a sharp decline in the first six months of this year (-15%). Almost everything comes from Spain. Soft citrus is also an important import product with an import of 28,000 tonnes last year; +7% in the first half of this year. The import of grapes is around the same size. 10% less was imported in the first half of this year. Most come, partially through the Netherlands, from South Africa.
Less tomatoes from the Netherlands, especially in June and July
Tomatoes are the main fresh vegetable import product. The import is still growing modestly, including in the first half of this year. The Netherlands and Spain are the two big suppliers. The import of Dutch product decreased by 5% in the first six months of this year, that from Spain increased (+6%). What was striking was the sharp decline of the import of tomatoes from the Netherlands in the months of June and July (see table 11b). Chile did well with an increase in the first half of this year (+9%). Especially the import of Chilean apples went well.
10% of Dutch product but almost 30% through the Netherlands
Norway is a modest buyer for the Netherlands. For fresh vegetables the share that goes to Norway is over 1% and almost 5% for fresh fruit. The share of Dutch product in the Norwegian import of fresh fruits and vegetables has been around 1-% for years. This was no different in the first six months of this year. Including re-export the share that goes through the Netherlands is a quarter and in the first half of this year even 28%. The Netherlands is practically the market leader on the Norwegian pepper market with a share of over 80% of the total pepper export last year. In tomatoes the share of Dutch product is half, in pears it is 44%, in onions is is a third, 30% for mushrooms and a quarter for strawberries.
For more information:
Fruit & Vegetable Facts
Jan Kees Boon
fruitvegfacts@gmail.com
www.fruitandvegetablefacts.com