China is the main carrot producer worldwide, with over 16 million tons on a total of around 37 million tons. However, when we look at things from the point of view of yields, Iceland emerges as leader followed by Uzbekistan, UK, Israel and Belgium.
First 5 countries per yield (hectograms per hectare) of carrots and parsnips (k=thousands)
Italy: Sicily and Abruzzo leading carrot producer regions
Carrot and parsnip crops in Italy cover almost 11,000 hectares, producing over 480,000 tons (2013).
Sicily is the main producer with over 3,000 hectares and 100,000 tons followed by Lazio (2,000 ha and 90,000 ton), Emilia-Romagna and Abruzzo (1,900 ha). Abruzzo's yield is though the highest at 140,000 tons.
Imports from the EU
72.6% of the volumes in 2013 were bought in Europe, especially from the Netherlands and Belgium (20.2 and 10.3% respectively).
The only extra-European country from which Italy buys carrots is Israel (27.4% in 2013), although volumes are now half of what they used to be (46.3% in 2013).
Source: Ismea processing of Istat data
In the same period, Dutch carrots grew from 14.5% in 2010 to 20.2% in 2013. In addition, imports from Spain have rocketed, from 0.2% in 2010 to 9.2% in 2013.
Germany is the main destination for exports
As regards exports, Germany absorbs around half of the produce (46.1% of volumes, i.e. over 30,000 tons). Shipments to France have dropped from over 7,300 tons in 2010 to merely 2,600 ton in 2013.
Only 6.9% was shipped outside the EU in 2013 (Switzerland, Norway and Russia). In particular, Russia absorbed only 2.1% of the total last year, but interest was growing steadily. Before the ban, it bought 330 tons.