Average pear production in the EU-27 amounts more than 2.6 mln MT, while apparent consumption remains stable or in a slight negative trend, at around 2.8 mln MT annually. As Trentini says: "Per-capita average yearly consumption still remains below 6 kg/person. It was 5.14 kg/person during the period 2009-2011"
Import is higher than export, even though it has been less high in the last few years. In 2000-2005 average import-export ratio was 170,000 tones while in 2006-2008 it decreased to 80,000 tons. Finally, in 2010-2011, export of pears (68,000 tons) was higher than import (104.000 tons).
In Germany and Great Britain, pears are mainly imported. On the other hand, other countries such as Italy, France, Spain, Holland and Belgium are good producers of pears. Eurostat/Prognosfruit data.
Germany
In 2000-2011 annual pear import was 176,000 tons. Import from Italy was 60,000-70,000 tons up to 2005. They reached the biggest volumes of about 80,000 tons in 2006-2007, recently they have decreased to minimum values (55-56,000 tons).
German import from Holland recorded an increase till 2005, while recently it has been steady (about 58.000 ton).
Pear import from Belgium has been decreasing since 2004, and recently there has been a drop also in Spanish import.
Among minor countries there is a drop in import from France, today about 6,000 tons, while it seems to increase import from countries in the Southern Hemisphere.
Germany: quantity of retail purchasing.
German GDO: loose (green) and packed (blue) products in percentage
Great Britain
In Great Britain imports of pears were steady (about 116,000 tons on average per year) until 2003, then they rose up to 130,000 tons.
Apparent consumption is changeable: until 2003 it was lower than 150,000 tons, in 2004-2005 it was more than 170,000 tons and in 2006-2009, it was again 150,000 tons. In the last two years it was more than160,000 tons. Per-capite apparent consumption is about 2.5 kg per year.
The main supplier of pears in Great Britain is Holland which, after a fall from 2005 to 2009, in 2011 reached the highest levels by sending 67,000 tons.
France
In the last few years, in France, pear production decreased from 260,000 to 175,000 tons, whereas import increased from 95,000 to150,000 tons (on average in 2008-2011).
Spain
Also in Spain production is falling but import is not increasing. Import is mainly from the Southern Hemisphere (among them re-export from Holland).
In Spain, consumption of fresh fruit is increasing except peaches and grapes whereas pear consumption was steady in 2008-2011, and slightly increased in 2010-2011.
Pear consumption increased from 311,000 tons on average in 2004-2006 to 325,000 tons in 2010-2011.
Average price was up to 1,48 euro/kg in 2008 and then it decreased in the following years.
Pear consumption according commercial channel in Spain: retailers 33%, supermarkets 27%, markets 15%, discounts 8%, hypermarkets 7%, etc.
Italy
in Italy production was steady, on average 860,000 tons, until 2009. In 2011, after the production deficit in 2010, la production increased (915,000 tons).
Import is mainly from the Southern Hemisphere, it was lower in 2010 and recovered in 2011. Import from Spain was quite important but since 2000 it has been falling.
Italy: purchase of pear per volume, value and average price (from 2000/01 to 2010/11). In yellow quantity, in pink value (1.000 €) and in blue average price (€/kg).
Distribution of pears according to commercial channels in percentage. In red hypermarkets, in blue supermarkets, in green discounts, in light blue Superettes, in orange stallholds, in pink no-specialized shops, in yellow specialized shops and in grey others.
Russia
Production of pear was about 150,000 tons in 2010 while import was about 300,000 tons in 2009.
Russia: import of pear from countries. In blue evolution of import of apples from Belgium, in red from Holland.
As you can see in the above graphic, Russian import of pears come mainly from Belgium (slightly lower than 140,000 tons) and from Holland, (which has been falling from 2007). Among minor countries, import is inscreasing from Lithuania (33,000 tons in 2011) and from Poland (more than 17,000 tons). Italy, despite the positive trend in the last few years, exports to Russia only 5,000 tons of pears.
Production of pear was about 150,000 tons in 2010 while import was about 300,000 tons in 2009.
Russia: import of pear from countries. In blue evolution of import of apples from Belgium, in red from Holland.
As you can see in the above graphic, Russian import of pears come mainly from Belgium (slightly lower than 140,000 tons) and from Holland, (which has been falling from 2007). Among minor countries, import is inscreasing from Lithuania (33,000 tons in 2011) and from Poland (more than 17,000 tons). Italy, despite the positive trend in the last few years, exports to Russia only 5,000 tons of pears.