The EU market for canned fruit and vegetables

Preserved fruit and vegetables
CBI MARKET SURVEY:
THE EU MARKET FOR CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
PRESERVED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
The EU market for canned fruit and vegetables
Publication date: October, 2009
Report summary
This CBI market survey discusses the following highlights of the EU market for canned fruit
and vegetables:
• The consumption of canned fruit and vegetables in 2008 amounted to €15 billion and 14
million tonnes. The United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and France are the main consumers in the
EU.
• The EU production of canned fruit and vegetables in 2008 was 13 million tonnes,
representing a value of €15 billion.
• Most canned fruit and vegetables are sold through retail channels. In addition, the EU food
processing industry and food service industry also use canned fruit and vegetables.
• Imported canned fruit and vegetables are often brought to a centrally located EU country,
usually either the Netherlands or Germany, and from there re-exported and distributed to
other EU countries.
• Total EU imports increased on average 6.1% annually in value between 2004 and 2008,
totalling €6.8 billion and 6.6 million tonnes in 2008.
• The six markets discussed in this survey accounted for 72% of EU canned fruit and
vegetables imports in 2008. The largest imported product groups are canned tomatoes,
representing 19% of the EU import value.
• Around a quarter of the import value comes from developing countries (DCs). Imports from
DCs increased on average 5.9% annually in the period reviewed.
This survey aims to provide DC exporters of canned fruit and vegetables with product-specific
market information related to gaining access to the EU market(s). Detailed information on the
selected products is given in Appendix A. This survey discusses the EU in general and the
following six markets in particular: Germany, France, the United Kingdom (UK), the
Netherlands, Italy and Spain.
1
Market description: industrial demand and production
Consumption
Apparent consumption1 (including industrial demand) of canned fruit and vegetables in the EU
was almost 14 million tonnes in volume in 2008, representing a value of almost €15 billion
(Table 1.1). The United Kingdom was the main consumer of canned fruit and vegetables with a
share of 17% of consumption value. The United Kingdom was followed by Italy (15%), Spain
(11%), France (11%), Germany (8.5%), Poland (3.5%) and the Netherlands (2.8%).
Table 1.1
Apparent consumption of canned fruit and vegetables in the EU in 2008,
€ million and thousand tonnes
Total
The United Kingdom
Italy
Spain
France
Germany
Poland
Value
Volume
14,732
2,496
2,178
1,622
1,619
1,249
515
13,670
1,694
2,141
1,366
2,263
1,198
601
1
Apparent consumption is the sum of production and imports minus exports. Variations of stocks are not taken into
account, which may result in small variations.
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THE EU MARKET FOR CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
Value
Volume
The Netherlands
406
255
Sweden
215
193
Finland
206
130
Czech Republic
178
231
Belgium
164
204
Austria
144
163
Source: Eurostat (Prodcom, 2009 and Comext/CN, 2009)
Consumption of canned peaches, canned pears and canned fruit mixtures decreased between
2004 and 2006 (see Table 1.2). Consumption of canned peaches was 345 thousand tonnes in
2006 and decreased by 20% between 2004 and 2006. Consumption of canned pears was 106
thousand tonnes in 2006 and decreased by 10% between 2004 and 2006. Consumption of
canned fruit mixtures was 153 thousand tonnes in 2006 and decreased by 6.7% between 2004
and 2006.
Table 1.2
Consumption of canned fruit in the EU, 2004-2006 in thousand tonnes
Canned peaches
Canned pears
Canned fruit mixtures
Source: GTIS, 2008
2004
2005
2006
433
118
164
440
119
162
345
106
153
Canned fruit and vegetables sales are stagnating or slowly decreasing but growth in
consumption is expected in Central and Eastern European countries. As canned fruit is a cheap
alternative to fresh fruit, people might turn to buying canned fruit in economically difficult
times and canned fruit and vegetables are also bought by young people in order to save time.
On the one hand, canned fruit and vegetables are perceived as healthy (but not as healthy as
fresh fruit and vegetables) but on the other hand they are perceived as more convenient than
fresh fruit and vegetables at a lower price and with a longer shelf life.
Market segments
Consumer segments
The EU population is still growing, though slowly, at 0.4% per year in 2008 (Eurostat 2009).
Projections are that the population will continue to grow until about 2025 but there are large
differences amongst EU countries. Population growth is high in Spain and Ireland, but very low
in Germany and the Scandinavian countries. The population is also decreasing in some of the
new member countries of the EU. The growth in the market for canned fruit and vegetables
will not depend on the number of consumers but on other demographic factors.
Consumption patterns for canned fruit and vegetables vary strongly across the EU. In many
older EU countries, the food market is nearly saturated and competition is very strong. Total
consumption of canned fruit and vegetables will therefore not grow much and consumers may
shift to other products, such as fresh fruit and vegetables. In the new EU countries, however,
sales of canned fruit and vegetables show higher growth rates.
Canned fruit and vegetables are mainly sold to the retail segment. There are two major
consumer segments within the market of canned fruit and vegetables. Young consumers with a
busy lifestyle consume canned fruit and vegetables because of convenience. Older consumers
are used to buying canned fruit and vegetables, because fresh fruit and vegetables were less
readily available in the past.
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THE EU MARKET FOR CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
Industrial segments
Canned fruit and vegetables are also used as an ingredient by the food processing industry in
two ways.
•
The ready-meals industry: this is a significant user of canned vegetables (mainly for
pizzas, pastas, soups and fresh and frozen meals).
•
The meal components industry: this industry is an important user of canned vegetables.
Other food sectors, such as the baby and infant food industries use a variety of preserved fruit
and vegetables.
It is difficult to indicate the amount of canned fruit and vegetables sold directly through retail
and the amount used by the food processing industry. There are large differences amongst the
different types of products. For instance, the retail sector is responsible for approximately 50
to 75% of sales of canned pineapple and the remaining part goes to the food industry. Within
the food industry, the bakery and dairy industry is the main user of canned fruit.
Trends in consumption
Health
Europeans have become more focused in recent years on leading a healthy lifestyle with more
consumption of fruit and vegetables. Various initiatives have been implemented by public and
private institutions (for instance the ‘5-a-day’ campaign or ‘Better-for-you’ products). For
canned vegetables this means a reduced level of added salt. Because of increasing health
awareness, consumers prefer fresh fruit and vegetables over canned fruit and vegetables,
because fresh products are perceived as more healthy.
Convenience
Demand for convenience food has increased because of the faster pace of life, more singleheaded households and less time for cooking. Fresh and unprocessed ingredients are replaced
by convenience products, which require less time to prepare. Convenience products are more
popular in northern Europe, with countries such as the UK, Ireland and Germany at the
forefront. Consumers in southern countries such as Italy, Spain and Greece prefer fresh and
unprocessed products (instead of canned products, for example) and the market share of
convenience products is smaller. However, the trend towards convenience foods is present in
these countries as well, as it is in the new members of the EU, but the impact is smaller.
Consumption of organic food
Although organic food is still a small niche market, consumption is increasing fast in almost all
countries. Since the food scares that hit EU countries in the 1990s and 2000s, many people
are concerned about food safety. This factor, combined with increasing awareness of health,
diet and nutrition, has increased interest in organic food products, including canned organic
fruit and vegetables. However people are less willing to pay a premium for canned organic fruit
and vegetables, than for fresh organic fruit and vegetables. Therefore it is expected that the
share of canned organic fruit and vegetables in total sales of canned fruit and vegetables will
remain small.
Fairtrade
The growing social awareness by EU consumers of production methods and income distribution
in DCs has led to an increased demand for Fairtrade certified products (including Fairtrade
canned fruit and vegetables). The standards may be downloaded from the website of the
Fairtrade Labelling Organization http://www.fairtrade.net. There is a tendency in the market
for products to be both organic and Fairtrade certified.
Products that relate positively to the prevailing trends offer the best opportunities. Canned
vegetables fit well with the convenience products trend. There are also opportunities in niche
markets such as the ethnic/exotic canned fruit and vegetables market. DCs hold a strong
position in exotic products, such as canned pineapple, though temperate fruits and vegetables
are increasingly coming from DCs as well.
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In addition, organic and fair trade markets provide small but quickly growing niches that could
be interesting for exporters in DCs, although certification is sometimes complicated and costly.
Forecast
The impact of the economic crisis on the consumption of canned fruit and vegetables is
expected to be low. Canned fruit and vegetables are not perceived as luxury products and no
cheaper alternative is available. Because of the relatively low price and the economic crisis,
consumers might purchase more canned fruit and vegetables, which could lead to
opportunities for exporters from DCs.
Production
In 2008, the production of canned fruit and vegetables amounted to 13 million tonnes in total,
representing a value of €15 million. Production of canned vegetables is almost five times larger
than production of canned fruit. The main producer of canned fruit and vegetables was Italy
with a share of 23% (of the total production value of canned fruit and vegetables), followed by
Spain (16%), the United Kingdom (12%), France (5.2%), Germany (4.3%) and the
Netherlands (4.1%).
Table 1.3
Production of canned fruit and vegetables in 2008, value in million € and
volume in thousand tonnes
Canned vegetables
Canned fruit
Value
Volume
12,177
11,304
3,098
3,598
Spain
2,066
1,684
The United Kingdom
1,466
724
EU27
Italy
EU27
Italy
Value
Volume
2,652
1,974
379
318
Spain
339
324
Greece
305
362
France
654
723
The United Kingdom
233
84
Germany
630
512
Poland
125
89
The Netherlands
545
77
France
110
50
Poland
394
456
The Netherlands
63
31
Hungary
277
437
Finland
58
38
Portugal
180
238
Hungary
43
56
Greece
163
179
Czech Republic
33
20
Belgium
101
152
96
69
Austria
Denmark
25
9
Bulgaria
23
14
Finland
74
30
Slovakia
13
14
Ireland
68
24
Sweden
5
5
1
3
Ireland
68
24 Portugal
Source: Eurostat (Prodcom, 2009 and Comext/CN, 2009)
The EU is a large producer of canned fruit and vegetables. Because of its range of climatic
regimes, a wide variety of crops is produced. In northern Europe, temperate species are
produced in the open air during spring and summer. In addition, there is production of
vegetables such as tomatoes and sweet pepper in greenhouses, which allow for cultivation
almost all year round. Higher production levels and a wider variety of crops is possible in the
Mediterranean climate in southern Europe. Although most of these products are sold fresh, a
substantial part is used by the food processing industry. Some fruit and vegetable that are
destined for the processing industry are still produced with EU subsidies (for example for
tomatoes). The canning industry uses a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, mostly temperate
species. The fruit and vegetables processing industry in many EU countries uses domestic (or
EU) produce because ingredients for canning have to be very fresh.
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Exotic fruit and vegetables cannot be produced in the EU and therefore have to be imported.
They are often preserved (in intermediate form or in consumer packs) in the country of origin.
Also, there are clearly opportunities for products that can be produced more cost-efficiently
and the growing demand for tropical fruit salads leads to opportunities for exporters of canned
tropical fruit.
In the EU, the canned food industry has contracts with European farmers for the supply of fruit
and vegetables. In case of a shortage of supply prices may be re-negotiated. Often the
varieties of fruit suitable for canning are not suited for the fresh fruit industry. This means
there is no competition between the fresh food and frozen food sector and the canned fruit
sector for fruits such as peaches or prunes.
For other fruits, such as pineapple, growth of sales can be hampered by short supply. The
harvest and therefore the availability of fruit and vegetables for canning is greatly influenced
by climate and weather, particularly at the time of harvesting. Canned fruit and vegetables can
be stored for a long time. Therefore they are not much subject to seasonal variation in price or
supply compared to fresh fruit. Annual yield of fruits and vegetables depends on weather
conditions. When yields are low there is competition between the fresh fruit and vegetables
industry, the frozen food industry and the canned fruit and vegetables for the same fruit and
vegetables. As the price is highest in the fresh fruit industry, the canned fruit and vegetables
industry might have a shortage. This leads to opportunities for new countries, such as DCs, to
supply canned fruits and vegetables.
Certain fruit and vegetables destined for the canning industry are still produced with EU
subsidies. This leads to low-priced domestic products competing with more expensive,
imported products. Financial compensation (subsidies) exists for tomatoes, citrus fruit,
peaches, nectarines, dried plums, dried figs and dried grapes. Some countries have abolished
this compensation and others are in transition and slowly decreasing the compensation.
While the cost of tinplate was the main concern of the canned fruit and vegetables industry in
2007, the main concern in 2008 and 2009 is not being able to sell the stocks of canned fruit
and vegetables. For example, inventories of canned peach are increasing because demand has
decreased as a reaction to the global economic crisis and the increasing difficulty of getting
credit.
Product groups
Canned peaches, canned pears and canned fruit mixtures are some of the main canned fruit
products. Production of canned peaches decreased by 3.7% between 2004 and 2006 (see
Table 1.6). Greece and Spain were the main producers of canned peaches in 2006. Greece has
a 64% share of EU production of canned peaches and Spain 30%. Production of canned pears
decreased by 2.3% between 2004 and 2006. Italy was the main producer (a share of 52% of
EU production of canned pears), followed by Spain (22%) and France (20%). Production of
canned fruit mixtures decreased by 2.2% between 2004 and 2006. Italy was the main
producer (with 53% share of the EU production), followed by Greece (26%).
Table 1.4 Production of canned fruit in the EU, 2004-2006 in thousand tonnes
Canned peaches
Canned pears
Canned fruit mixtures
Source: GTIS, 2008
2004
2005
2006
454
85
138
517
89
139
437
83
135
Canned tomatoes (19% of production value, see table 1.5), followed by canned pickled
vegetables (14%), canned olives (9.2%), canned beans (8.5%), canned mushrooms (6.4%),
canned peas (3.5%) and canned sweetcorn (3.3%) are the main canned vegetables
products.
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Italy is the largest producer of canned tomatoes (69% of EU production value in 2008). It also
produces pickled vegetables, canned mushrooms and canned beans. The second largest
canned vegetables producer was Spain. Spain is the leading EU producer of canned olives with
a share of 82% of EU production value in 2008. Next to canned olives it produces, canned
tomatoes and canned pickled vegetables. France mainly produces canned beans, canned sweet
corn (together with Hungary, the main EU producer), canned peas and canned pickled
vegetables. The United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands produce mostly miscellaneous
vegetables (‘mixtures’).
Table 1.5 Production of canned vegetables in the EU in 2008 in million €
Value
Canned tomatoes
Canned pickled vegetables
Canned olives
Canned beans
Canned mushrooms
Canned peas
Canned sweetcorn
Canned sauerkraut
Canned asparagus
Source: PRODCOM, 2009
2,344
1,746
1,123
1,039
783
427
402
67
46
Some of the main producers of canned fruit and vegetables in Europe are:
•
Bonduelle (France) is the largest producer of canned, bottled and frozen vegetables in
France and one of the largest in EU. It is a trendsetter in product development and
packaging – http://www.bonduelle.com;
•
Unilever – http://www.unilever.com;
•
Del Monte – http://www.freshdelmonte.com;
•
Dole (France) – http://www.doleeurope.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx;
•
Kuehne (Germany) – http://www.kuehne.de/en/index.php;
•
Pavlides (Greece, canned fruit) – http://www.pavlides-group.gr/html/main.htm;
•
Elbak (Greece, canned fruit) – http://www.elbak.gr/index.html;
•
Hak (the Netherlands) – http://www.hak.nl.
Trends in production
Added value
The overall trend in new fruit products is ‘added value’ which provides increased convenience
for the consumer by offering a much greater variety of ready prepared fruit products to be
consumed as snacks on-the-go.
Packaging
Canned fruits and vegetables continue to move into plastic packaging, with convenient singleserve, portion-sized, plastic cups and large jars becoming increasingly popular. Also canned
fruit and vegetables in glass jars are getting more and more popular. Even though many
believe that cans are here to stay, the rising cost of tinplate will lead to processors looking for
alternatives. Innovation in packaging has been a critical factor in the growth of the sector,
with snack packs and pouches stimulating an entirely new demand. Even more important is
the improvement in profitability, as the new packaging brings a far higher return than
traditional canned fruit.
Opportunities and threats
Opportunities and threats for DC exporters are listed below.
+ As tropical and exotic fruit cannot be produced in the EU, canned tropical and exotic fruits
need to be imported. This offers opportunities for exporters from DCs.
+ The trend in production of canned fruit and vegetables by adding more value by using new
types of packaging can be an opportunity for exporters from DCs.
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–
–
–
Consumption of canned peaches, canned pears and canned fruit mixtures was decreasing
between 2004 and 2006.
European regulations on food are very strict and importers demand a consistently high
quality and reliable supply. Advanced technologies and machinery for preservation as well
as suitable packaging materials, can limit export opportunities.
There is uncertainty about the future implications of the economic crisis.
Useful sources
• FRUCOM, is the umbrella organisation of the European Institutions of the European
•
•
•
•
2
Federation of the trade in canned fruit and vegetables, dried fruit, edible nuts, honey,
spices and similar foodstuffs – http://www.frucom.org;
Organisation of the European Industries Transforming Fruit and Vegetables (OEITFL) –
http://www.oeitfl.org;
FoodProductionDaily.com Europe – http://www.foodproductiondaily.com;
Food and Beverage International – http://www.foodandbeverageinternational.com;
FoodAndDrinkEurope – http://www.foodanddrinkeurope.com.
Trade channels for market entry
Trade channels
The supply (and production) of many canned fruits and vegetables are concentrated in large
multinational companies. They dominate the supply of these products to a large part of the
retail sales channels in the EU. DC exporters of mainstream products may seek market
segments in which small amounts of the product can be traded. A product like canned
pineapple is considered mainstream while canned mango, for instance, is still a speciality
product.
Besides domestically produced canned fruit and vegetables, the EU food industry uses large
amounts of imported canned fruit and vegetables. They are used as ingredients in processed
food or re-packed for retail or re-export.
The canned fruit and vegetables trade is pan-European but some EU countries are dominant in
one or more product groups. Canned fruit and vegetables, which are imported from outside of
the EU, are often imported to a centrally located EU country (Germany and the Netherlands),
and from there re-exported and distributed to other EU countries. The very strict food
regulations dominating the European market and the conservative trade patterns with longlasting partnerships are key factors in relation to the small amount of imported canned fruit
and vegetables from DCs.
In general, the trade channels in the different EU countries do not differ greatly (Figure 3.1).
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Figure 3.1 Distribution channels for canned fruit and vegetables
Producer/exporter
Importer/agent
Food processing industry
Wholesaler
Retail and food service
Most suitable trade partner
Importers are the most interesting trading partners for DC exporters of canned fruit and
vegetables. They often have strong relationships with their buyers all over the world and have
extensive and up-to-date knowledge of the quality demands and market trends. They are most
likely to build up a long-term relationship with their suppliers. A reliable and high-quality
supply of canned fruit and vegetables is important for their business.
Agents could also be another interesting trading partner when entering the EU market for the
first time. Independent agents look for products and operate as intermediaries between the
exporter and the food processing industry, the retail business, or the catering market. Agents
do not buy or own the canned products and often work on commission. There are two types of
agents: agents that represent the buyers, such as the food processing industry or re-exporters
and agents that represent sellers, mainly exporters. Agents are well informed about market
trends, buyers and prices.
Retail
In most markets, large retail organisations prefer to purchase canned fruit and vegetables
direct, either from the multinationals or other producers in producing countries, which may
pack supermarkets’ own labels. Canned mango, papaya, guava, etc. are imported mainly by
specialised importers who mainly supply the retail trade with very little being supplied to the
catering and food industry.
In
•
•
•
•
•
the EU, large multiple retailers (with their own buying groups) are:
Carrefour (France) – http://www.carrefour.com;
Metro (Germany) – http://www.metro.com;
Tesco (UK) – http://www.tesco.com;
Aldi (Germany) – http://www.aldi.com;
Ahold (the Netherlands) – www.ahold.com.
The food service sector
The food service sector uses retail products packed in larger quantities than supermarkets. The
food service sector includes restaurants, fast-food outlets, institutions such as hospitals,
schools, homes for the elderly, and meal delivery services.
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Trends in trade
Concentration of the value chain
Multinational food companies are present in almost all EU countries and have a large share of
the market. There are also numerous small and medium companies active in the canned fruit
and vegetables market but their number is decreasing in many EU countries. Some companies,
such as Hak in the Netherlands, mainly supply the domestic market but do import from DCs.
Many multinational food companies arrange imports themselves or use an agent. For some
specific products, multinational companies may even have production facilities at source or
have strong relations with a small group of suppliers.
Concentration at the retail level
An ever-smaller number of retailers dominate food distribution and sales in the EU countries
discussed. The process of concentration is most advanced in the UK, the Netherlands,
Germany and France. Private label sales in the countries discussed showed a steady increase .
This has resulted in increased competition between branded and private label products and
lower margins for branded manufacturers (for example, Kuehne). On the other hand, it has
been noted that discounters increasingly offer branded products.
Increasing concern about food safety, the environment and fair production
Retailers and the food processing industry are responding to the increasing social concern
about food safety, the environment and fair production and are increasing their control over
supply chains. They are working more often with a limited number of preferred suppliers
(importers and producers) and place the responsibility for the quality of the food in the hands
of these suppliers. As a result, mutual dependence is increasing. Gaining access to strongly
integrated supply chains can be difficult for starting exporters. It is recommended that
potential DC exporters contact traders that supply ingredients to the food processing industry
rather than approaching food manufacturers directly.
Interesting players
The internet site http://www.europages.com is a useful source for finding contact details and
information on the activities of importers. The most interesting contacts in Europages can be
found under the category Food & Related Products.
Another internet site where buyers and sellers can meet online is http://www.foodtrader.com,
a B2B marketplace for the food and agriculture industry (login required).
Price structure
Prices of canned fruit and vegetables imported from outside the EU are set at the global level.
Changes in supply will cause changes in the price level. Varying exchange rates also contribute
to price fluctuations. Quality and origin are other important factors in determining the price of
canned fruit and vegetables. Products are often categorised according to type, grade and
quality, which relate to certain price premiums or differentials. Although most products are
described in various qualities, quality requirements in EU markets are generally high.
The production of canned fruit and vegetables is highly dependent on the supply of raw
materials. Weather conditions during the growing season of fruit and vegetables influence the
supply of fresh produce, especially in the short term. Reduced domestic harvests of fruit and
vegetables will reduce the amount available for the processing industry. This will result in
larger requirements for imports and higher prices. Likewise, the weather conditions in fruit and
vegetable producing and exporting countries also have an effect on the supply of canned fruit
and vegetables to the world market. Moreover, the processing industry sometimes has to
compete with the fresh fruit and vegetables market. In times of shortage, fruits and
vegetables that were destined for the processing industry may be sold as fresh as they can
fetch a higher price in this market. The demand is, in general, more constant than supply.
Structural changes in demand occur over much longer periods.
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The market for canned fruit and vegetables is regulated by the EU. For many products import
duties have to be paid. Import duties are waived for many DCs, providing those countries with
a relative advantage. For more information on duties, quotas and waiving of duties, see
Chapter 6 and the website EU Expanding Exports Helpdesk – http://exporthelp.europa.eu.
Margins in the international trade in canned fruit and vegetables are under pressure.
Exporters are advised to closely monitor market and price developments in their specific
product categories, in order to quote realistic prices.
Selecting a suitable trading partner
Selecting a suitable trading partner depends on the canned fruit and vegetables offered and
whether or not it is organically certified. European food trade fairs are, in general, the best
place to meet buyers, to gain insight into trends unfolding in your area of interest and to
evaluate whether or not your product is ready for the market.
On-line company databases for finding companies working in the canned fruit and vegetables
market are:
• Food world, an extensive online food business directory with full EU coverage; fruit
products are a separate product group:
http://www.thefoodworld.com/food_exporters_importers.
Business-to-business sources include the following;
• Agronetwork.com: http://www.agronetwork.com/global.
The internet site http://www.europages.com is a useful source for finding contact details and
information on the activities of importers. The most interesting contacts at Europages can be
found under the category ‘Food & Related Products’.
Other internet sites where buyers and sellers can meet online are:
• Foodtrader - B2B marketplace for the food and agriculture industry (login required) –
http://www.foodtrader.com.
• Greentrade - an online marketplace for organically grown products where suppliers can
specify their range – http://www.greentrade.net.
3
Trade: imports and exports
Imports
In 2008, total imports of canned fruit and vegetables by EU member countries amounted to
6.6 million tonnes, representing a value of €6.8 billion. Germany was the leading EU importer
of canned fruits and vegetables in 2008, accounting for about a quarter of the total import
value (23%), followed by France (16%), the United Kingdom (13%), the Netherlands (7.1%),
Italy (6.6%) and Spain (6.4%).
Since 2004, imports increased by an average annual rate of 6.1% in terms of value and 1.5%
in volume. This increase was mainly due to the increased import of canned asparagus (an
average increase of +10% per year in value between 2004 and 2008), canned sweet corn
(9.4%), canned tomatoes (8.1%), canned mushrooms (8.1%) and canned olives (7.5%).
Growth of import value was especially high for Eastern European countries, such as Poland (an
average increase of +17% per year between 2004 and 2008), Romania (+30%), the Czech
Republic (+14%) and Slovakia (+17%).
The import value of canned fruit and vegetables from DCs increased by +5.9% (on average
per year between 2004 and 2008) and the import volume by -0.4%. This was mainly due to
the increased import of canned beans (an average increase of +11% per year), canned olives
(+8.3%) and canned pineapples (+7.7%). Import value from DCs decreased for canned
tomatoes (-2.4% on average per year), canned peaches and nectarines (-12%) and canned
cherries (-3.4%).
Source: CBI Market Information Database • URL:
www.cbi.eu
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THE EU MARKET FOR CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
The main DCs, supplying canned fruit and vegetables to the EU in 2008 were China (mainly
canned mushrooms, canned tomatoes and canned asparagus), Thailand (mainly canned
pineapple and canned sweet corn), Turkey (mainly canned olives and ‘other canned pickled
vegetables and fruit’), Peru and Morocco (mainly canned olives).
The share of import value from DCs has remained stable between 2004 and 2008 at around a
quarter of total import value. The share of import value from DCs is especially high for canned
palm hearts (93% of import value is from DCs), canned asparagus (80%), canned mango
chutney (79%), canned pineapple (77%), canned citrus fruit (41%) and canned apricots
(35%).
Canned tomatoes is the main product group imported into the EU. In 2008 canned tomatoes
amounted to around 19% of total EU imports in terms of value of canned fruit and vegetables.
Other product groups with a large share were: olives (7.7%), pineapples (6.1%), mushrooms
(5.7%) and sweet corn (5.1%). There were increased imports of canned homogenized
vegetables (on average +21% per year between 2004 and 2008), canned asparagus (+10%),
sweet corn (+9.4%), canned mango chutney (+9.1%), canned tomatoes (+8.2%), canned
mushrooms (+8.1%) and canned palm hearts (+7.9%).
Table 3.1
Total EU
Intra EU
Extra EU ex.
DCs
DCs*
Germany
Intra EU
Extra EU ex.
DCs
Imports and leading suppliers of canned fruit and
vegetables 2004-2008, share in % of value
2004
€ mln
5,340
2006
€ mln
5,759
3,854
4,187
116
114
1,371
1,458
1,400
1,449
1,093
1,141
22
29
286
279
829
875
615
619
10
10
DCs
France
Intra EU
Extra EU ex.
DCs
DCs
The United
Kingdom
Intra EU
Extra EU ex.
DCs
DCs
2008
€ mln
6,774
Leading suppliers in 2008
Share in %
Italy (16%), Spain (10%), the Netherlands
(9.3%), Germany (8.0%), France (6.9%)
USA (1.5%), Switzerland (0.3%), Israel (0.3%),
179 Canada (0.2%), Australia (0.1%)
China (6.8%), Thailand (3.7%), Turkey (3.5%),
Peru (2.4%), Morocco (1.5%), Kenya (1.4%),
1,722
South Africa (1.0%), Indonesia (0.9%), Ecuador
(0.6%), Costa Rica (0.6%)
1,571
Italy (19%), the Netherlands (17%), France
1,198
(8.2%), Greece (7.7%), Spain (7.2%)
Switzerland (1.4%), USA (0.3%), French
34 Polynesia (0.1%), Australia (0.1%), Canada
(0.1%)
China (7.1%), Turkey (5.4%), Thailand (3.0%),
South Africa (1.3%), Kenya (0.9%), Indonesia
338
(0.8%), Peru (0.7%), Morocco (0.4%), Philippines
(0.4%), India (0.3%)
1,080
Spain (19%), the Netherlands (14%), Italy
790
(14%), Germany (9.3%), Belgium (7.5%)
Israel (0.6%), Canada (0.1%), USA (0.1%)
9
4,872
204
246
Morocco (5.8%), Peru (3.8%), China (3.1%),
Kenya (2.9%), Thailand (2.2%), Ecuador (2.0%),
281
Turkey (1.4%), Costa Rica (0.9%), Cameroon
(0.8%), Tunisia (0.5%)
761
830
887
553
609
32
30
176
191
Italy (35%), Spain (11%), Greece (7.4%),
699 Germany (6.6%), France (6.2%)
USA (0.8%), Canada (0.5%), Australia (0.5%),
21 Israel (0.2%), Japan (0.2%)
Thailand (3.9%), Turkey (2.8%), China (2.8%),
India (2.1%), South Africa (1.9%), Philippines
167 (1.0%), Swaziland (0.9%), Morocco (0.8%),
Source: CBI Market Information Database • URL:
www.cbi.eu
Share
(%)
72%
2.7%
25%
76%
2.2%
22%
73%
0.8%
26%
79%
2.4%
19%
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2004
€ mln
The
Netherlands
Intra EU
Extra EU ex.
DCs
DCs
Italy
Intra EU
Extra EU ex.
DCs
DCs
Spain
Intra EU
Extra EU ex.
DCs
DCs
2006
€ mln
388
434
190
195
23
20
174
376
219
344
242
261
6
3
127
80
297
340
138
153
2
2
157
185
2008
€ mln
Leading suppliers in 2008
Share in %
Kenya (0.4%), Argentina (0.3%)
Share
(%)
482
Belgium (14%), Germany (11%), Italy (7.6%),
239 Spain (6.1%), Greece (3.4%)
USA (4.4%), Israel (0.8%), Canada (0.6%),
Japan (0.2%), Australia (0.2%)
32
China (11%), Thailand (7.7%), Turkey (7.3%),
Costa Rica (4.4%), Ecuador (2.9%), South Africa
(2.9%), Kenya (1.7%), Philippines (1.2%), Peru
212 (1.0%), Indonesia (0.9%)
447
Spain (17%), France (13%), Greece (12%),
264
Germany (6.2%), the Netherlands (3.9%)
USA (12%), Israel (0.3%), Japan (0.1%)
58
China (16%), Thailand (2.5%), Turkey (1.9%),
Morocco (1.7%), Egypt (1.2%), Indonesia
125
(0.9%), Kenya (0.8%), Peru (0.7%), Philippines
(0.5%), Chile (0.4%)
436
France (13%), Germany (10%), Portugal (7.3%),
167
Italy (2.5%), the Netherlands (2.1%)
USA (0.2%), Canada (0.1%)
1
Peru (21%), China (20%), Thailand (4.7%),
Indonesia (4.2%), Kenya (3.2%), India (2.1%),
267
Turkey (1.5%), Costa Rica (1.0%), Philippines
(1.0%), Morocco (0.9%)
50%
6.6%
44%
59%
13%
28%
38%
0.4%
61%
Source: Eurostat (2006) *Developing Countries
See Appendix A of CBI market survey ‘The product market in the EU’ for a definition of the product groups
Germany
Germany is the largest importer of canned fruit and vegetables with a total import value of
€1.6 billion in 2008 and 1.7 million tonnes in volume. The main imported product groups are
canned tomatoes (18% of import value to Germany in 2008 of canned fruit and vegetables),
canned mushrooms (10%) and canned pineapples (5.3%) and the miscellaneous groups of
‘other canned vegetables and mixtures’ (11%) and ‘other canned fruit and mixtures’ (11%).
Growth of import value was mainly due to increased import from countries such as Peru (an
average increase of 83% between 2004 and 2008), Portugal (+18%), Kenya (+18%),
Switzerland (+12%) and Hungary (+12%). Import value increased between 2004 and 2008
2.9% in value and 0.3% in volume. This was mainly due to the increased import of canned
sweet corn (an average increase of +9.3% per year in value between 2004 and 2008), canned
mushrooms (+7.3%), and canned strawberries (+4.9%). Germany, compared to other EU
countries is a particularly large importer of canned tomatoes, canned mushrooms and canned
pineapples.
The main product groups imported from DCs in 2008 were canned pineapples (20% of import
value of Germany from DCs, mainly from Thailand and Kenya), ‘other canned pickled
vegetables and fruit’ (12%, mainly from Turkey), canned asparagus (8.9%, mainly from
China) and canned olives (7.1%, mainly from Turkey).
Source: CBI Market Information Database • URL:
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France
France is the second largest importer of canned fruit and vegetables with total imports of
€1.1 billion in value and 0.9 million tonnes in volume. The main imported product groups in
2008 were canned tomatoes (16%), canned olives (8.7%), canned beans (7.5%) and the
miscellaneous groups of ‘other canned fruit and mixtures’ (12%) and ‘other canned vegetables
and mixtures’ (12%),.
Import value increased between 2004 and 2008 by 6.8% on average per year in value and
1.1% in volume. This was mainly due to the increased import of canned sweet corn (+29%
increase per year), canned asparagus (+14%), canned beans (+13%), canned mushrooms
(+9.2%), canned tomatoes (+8.5%), canned pineapples (+8.0%) and canned palm hearts
(+7.2%). Import value mainly increased from the following supplying countries: Hungary
(+46%), Peru (+26%), Portugal (+26%), Cameroon (+22%), Kenya (+14%), China (+13%),
the Netherlands (+13%) and Ecuador (+12%). France, compared to other EU countries is a
particularly large importer of canned beans (mainly from Kenya) and canned olives (mainly
from Morocco and Spain).
The main product groups, imported from DCs to France are canned asparagus (16% of import
value from DCs mainly from Peru), canned beans (16%, mainly from Kenya), canned olives
(16%, mainly from Morocco), canned palm hearts (11%, mainly from Ecuador), canned
pineapples (8.2%, mainly from Thailand).
The UK
The UK was the third largest EU importer of canned fruit and vegetables with a share of 13%
of import value. The main imported product groups in 2008 were canned tomatoes (35% of
import value of canned fruit and vegetables, canned sweet corn (6.9%) and canned olives
(6.2%) and the miscellaneous groups ‘other canned fruit and mixtures’
(13%) and ‘other canned vegetables and mixtures’ (8.7%).
The UK imports grew between 2004 and 2008 by an average +3.9% annually in value,
totalling €887 million and 951 thousand tonnes in 2008. Between 2004 and 2008, imports
increased from the following countries: Portugal (on average 68% per year), Hungary (+59%),
Costa Rica (+18%), Belgium (+16%), the Philippines (+13%) and Greece (+10%).
The main product groups from DCs were canned pineapple (13% of import value from DCs to
the UK, mainly from Thailand), canned citrus fruit (9.6%, mainly from Turkey), canned sweet
corn (8.9%, mainly from Thailand) and the miscellaneous groups ‘other canned fruit and
mixtures’ (13%) and ‘other canned vegetables and mixtures’ (13%).
The Netherlands
Imports by the Netherlands increased between 2004 and 2008 on average by +5.6% annually
in value, totalling €482 million and 520 thousand tonnes in 2008. The main imported product
groups in the Netherlands in 2008 were canned tomatoes (13%), canned pineapples (8.7%),
pickled gherkins and cucumbers (6.4%) and the miscellaneous groups ‘other canned fruit and
vegetables’ (27%) and ‘other canned vegetables and mixtures’ (9.2%).
Increase of import value was mainly due to increasing supplies from Poland (an average
increase of +161% per year between 2004 and 2008), Portugal (+87%), Canada (+84%),
Israel (+37%), Kenya (+34%), Peru (+25%), Italy (+16%), the United Kingdom (+14%),
Ecuador (+13%) and Costa Rica (+12%). The 44% share of import value from DCs is high
compared to the European average of 25%.
The main imported product groups from DCs in 2008 were canned pineapples (17%, mainly
from Thailand), canned pickled gherkins and cucumbers (8.9%, mainly from Turkey), canned
mushrooms (7.1%, mainly from China) and the miscellaneous groups ‘other canned fruit and
mixtures’ (23%).
Source: CBI Market Information Database • URL:
www.cbi.eu
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CBI MARKET SURVEY:
THE EU MARKET FOR CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
The large imports by the Netherlands compared to its size and consumption can be explained
by the important distribution function the country has. Because of the high costs involved in
importing canned fruit and vegetables to the EU, canned fruits and vegetables are often
imported by one EU country in a large quantity and from there re-exported in smaller
quantities to other EU countries.
Italy
Italy is the fifth largest EU importer of canned fruit and vegetables. Between 2004 and 2008,
Italian imports increased on average by 4.4% annually in value, totalling €447 million and 384
thousands tonnes in 2008. The main imported product groups in 2008 were canned tomatoes
(28%), canned olives (22%), ‘other pickled vegetables and fruit’ (5.9%), canned pineapples
(4.8%) and the miscellaneous groups ‘other canned vegetables and mixtures’ (8.0%) and
‘other canned fruit and mixtures’ (7.1%).
Imports from developed countries outside the EU increased by +75% (on average per year
between 2004 and 2008 in value), while import value from DCs decreased by 0.5%. Growth
from developed countries outside the EU was mainly due to increasing supplies from the USA
(on average +85% growth per year). Supplies also increased from Indonesia (+94% on
average per year), Hungary (+59%), Egypt (+32%), Peru (+18%) and Morocco (+13%).
Imports of canned olives are the largest in the EU. Import value is €98 million and 11
thousand tonnes. Import value increased on average 3.6% per year between 2004 and 2008.
The main imported products from DCs in 2008 were canned tomatoes (43%, mainly from
China), ‘other canned pickled vegetables and fruit’ (15%, mainly from China), canned
pineapples (14%, mainly from Thailand) and canned olives (9.6%, mainly from Morocco).
Spain
Of the six countries concerned, imports of canned fruit and vegetables to Spain increased the
most between 2004 and 2008. Import increased on average +10% annually in value, totalling
€436 million and 360 thousand tonnes in 2008. This increase was mainly due to increasing
supplies from EU countries including Greece (an increase of +27% on average in import
value), Portugal (+24%) and France (+21%) and increasing supplies from DCs: Turkey
(+45%), Sri Lanka (+42%), Colombia (+41%), Egypt (+37%), Morocco (+26%), India
(+21%) and China (+21%).
The main imported product groups in 2008 were canned asparagus (28% of Spanish import
value of canned fruit and vegetables), canned pineapples (14%), canned sweet corn (7.0%)
and the miscellaneous groups ‘other canned vegetables and mixtures’ (8.0%) and ‘other
canned fruit and mixtures’ (8.0%).
The share of the total import value in 2008 from the DCs (61%) is the highest of all EU
countries. Imports from DCs increased more than the total imports of canned fruit and
vegetables. Import value from DCs increased on average by 14% per year in value between
2004 and 2008.
The main product groups from DCs in 2008 were canned asparagus (42% of import value from
DCs to Spain, mainly from China), canned pineapples (21%, mainly from Thailand), ‘other
canned pickled vegetables and fruit’ (4.9%, mainly from Turkey) and canned pickled gherkins
and cucumbers (3.4%, mainly from India) and the miscellaneous group ‘other canned
vegetables and mixtures’ (19%).
The share from DCs is high mainly for canned asparagus (93%, mainly from China and Peru),
canned pineapple (89%, mainly from Thailand, Indonesia and Kenya) and canned palmhearts
(96%, mainly from Cost Rica, Peru and Ecuador) and pickled gherkins (65%, mainly from
India).
Source: CBI Market Information Database • URL:
www.cbi.eu
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CBI MARKET SURVEY:
THE EU MARKET FOR CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
Exports
In 2008, European export of canned fruit and vegetables was 6.2 million tonnes with a value of
€6.9 billion (Eurostat, 2009). Exports increased on average by +5.9% per year between 2004
and 2008 and by +1.6% per year in volume. Exports mainly consisted of canned tomatoes
(+25% of export value in 2008), canned olives (+13%) and canned mushrooms (+5.8%).
Most canned fruit and vegetables are exported to other EU countries (74% of export value in
2008). Germany is the main destination with 20% of the export value, followed by the United
Kingdom (12%), France (11%), the Netherlands (6%) and the U.S.A. (5%).
Italy is the largest exporter of canned fruit and vegetables in the EU, accounting for 25% of
EU exports in 2008. The main exported product groups in 2008 were canned tomatoes, canned
beans and canned pears. Between 2004 and 2008, exports increased on average by +7.1%
annually, totalling €1.8 billion and 2.2 million tonnes in 2008.
Spain is the second largest exporter of canned fruit and vegetables in the EU, accounting for
18% of EU exports. Between 2004 and 2008, Spain’s exports increased on average by 2.7%
annually, totalling €1.2 billion and 1.0 million tonnes in 2008. The main exported product
groups in 2008 were canned olives, canned tomatoes, canned mushrooms and canned
peaches. Spain’s exports increased in value by +2.7% on average per year.
The Netherlands. With a market share of 10%, the Netherlands is the third largest exporter
of canned fruit and vegetables in the EU and is showing a rapid increase in exports. In the
review period, the exports increased on average by +6.3% per year accounting for €0.7 billion
and 0.37 million tonnes.
Germany is the fifth largest exporter of canned fruit and vegetables with a share of 8.7% of
total export value. Total exports amounted to €0.6 billion in value and 0.4 million tonnes in
volume. Export value increased by +3.9% on average per year in the review period. The main
exported product groups in 2008 were ‘other pickled vegetables and fruit’, ‘canned pickled
gherkins and cucumbers’ and canned strawberries and the miscellaneous groups of ‘other
canned fruit and mixtures’ and ‘other canned vegetables and mixtures’.
France is the sixth largest exporter of canned fruit and vegetables with a share of 8.5%. Total
exports amounted to €0.6 billion in value and 0.4 million tonnes in volume. Export value
increased by +1.5% per year on average. The main exported product groups were canned
sweet corn, canned peas, canned beans and the miscellaneous groups ‘other canned
vegetables and mixtures’ and ‘other canned fruit and mixtures’.
The United Kingdom is a small exporter of canned fruit and vegetables with a share of 1.3%.
As importer of canned fruit and vegetables UK is ranked third, but as exporter the UK is ranked
twelfth within the EU. This means most imports are used for domestic consumption. Export
value is increasing on average by +0.6% per year. The main exported product groups were
canned tomatoes, canned sweet corn and canned olives and the miscellaneous groups of
‘other canned fruit and mixtures’ and ‘other canned vegetables and mixtures’.
Greece is the forth largest exporter of the EU. Export volume amounted to 0.5 million tonnes,
representing a value of €0.6 billion. Greece mainly exports canned peaches and canned pears
from its own production.
The EU is dependent on imports of canned exotic fruit and vegetables, such as canned
pineapples, canned palm hearts and canned mango chutney. This offers possibilities for
exporters from DCs. For other product groups the share of imports from DCs is relatively low
(except for canned asparagus).
Source: CBI Market Information Database • URL:
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Total export value of canned fruit and vegetables in the EU in 2008 was close to import value
as it was only 1.5% higher than import value in 2008. Total export volume was 6.5% lower
than import volume. Important re-exporting countries are the Netherlands, Spain and
Germany.
Opportunities and threats
The opportunities and threats for DC exporters are listed below.
+ The EU is a large importer and exporter of canned fruit and vegetables.
+ Imports from DCs increased, especially for canned beans, canned olives and canned
pineapples.
+ The share of imports from DCs is high, especially for canned exotic fruit and canned
asparagus.
– Import value from DCs is decreasing for canned peaches and nectarines, canned cherries
and canned tomatoes.
– Some product groups are produced inside the EU and for these product groups the EU is
less dependent on imports, such as canned tomatoes, canned mushrooms, canned
cherries, canned peaches and nectarines, canned sweet corn and canned beans.
The same development or trend can be an opportunity for one exporter and a threat to
another. It is important, therefore, to analyse the developments and trends discussed in
Chapter 1 to establish whether they are opportunities or threats. The outcome of the analysis
depends on the specific situation of an exporter and conclusions may not be straightforward.
Useful sources
• EU Expanding Exports Helpdesk - http://exporthelp.europa.eu/
Î go to: trade statistics;
• Eurostat – http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu - official statistical office of the EU;
Î go to ‘themes’ on the left side of the home page
Î go to ‘external trade’
Î go to ‘data – full view’
Î go to ‘external trade - detailed data’;
• Understanding eurostat: Quick guide to easy comext http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/newxtweb/assets/User_guide_Easy_Comext_20080117.p
df.
4
Price developments
Because of the wide variations in availability caused by fluctuating harvests, weather
conditions or disasters, changes in supply usually have a much larger effect on price levels
than changes in demand. For instance, the Greek fresh peach crop has a significant influence
on canned peach prices worldwide. Other factors which have a significant effect on prices
include the exchange rate of the dollar, the quality and the grade.
The average price of imports has increased by 20% between 2004 and 2008. Overall import
prices of canned fruit and vegetables from DCs are lower than from the EU or other countries.
The average import price for imports of canned fruit and vegetables is €1.03, but for DCs it is
91 ct per kg.
No detailed price information on the canned fruits and vegetables market is available for the
six individual countries, but the following homepages can be used as sources of information
with regard to the EU price structure on canned fruit and vegetables:
•
Foodnews – http://www.foodnews.co.uk/commodity;
•
ITC Market News Service – http://www.intracen.org.
Source: CBI Market Information Database • URL:
www.cbi.eu
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CBI MARKET SURVEY:
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5
Market access requirements
As a manufacturer in a developing country preparing to access the EU, it is important to be
aware of the market access requirements of trading partners and the government.
Requirements are specified through legislation and through labels, codes and management
systems. These requirements are based on environmental, consumer health and safety and
social concerns. It is necessary to comply with EU legislation and to be aware of any additional
non-legislative requirements of trading partners in the EU.
For information on legislative and non-legislative requirements, go to ‘Search CBI database’ at
http://www.cbi.eu/marketinfo, select the market sector and target country in the category
search, click on the search button and click on market access requirements.
Information on tariffs and quotas can be found at http://exporthelp.europa.eu.
Additional information on packaging can be found on the ITC website on export packaging:
http://www.intracen.org/ep/packaging/packit.htm
6
Doing business
Common practices for sales promotion of canned fruit and vegetables can be found on the
internet or by visiting product-specific or sector-related trade fairs. Trade Fairs offer companies
in DCs the opportunity to establish contacts and build a trustworthy image , to promote their
products and to conduct EU market orientation.
Interesting Trade Fairs are:
•
Anuga - an important biennial international food and beverages fair, 8-12 October 2011 in
Cologne, Germany – http://www.anuga.com;
•
BioFach, 17-20 February 2010 in Nuremberg, Germany – http://www.biofach.de;
•
SIAL, 17-21 October 2010 in Paris, France – http://www.sial.fr;
•
Food and Drink Expo is a biennial UK exhibition for food and drinks products and services
from around the world, 21-24 March 2010 in Birmingham, the United Kingdom –
http://www.foodanddrinkexpo.co.uk.
Trade press can function not only as a means of gaining insight into market developments and
competition, but can also have a promotional function including finding potentially interesting
companies, and promoting activities and products. Trade press addressing the EU market
which could be of interest to those involved in the canned fruit and vegetables sector or the
food sector in general, are:
•
Foodnews – http://www.agra-net.com;
•
FoodProductionDaily.com Europe – http://www.foodproductiondaily.com;
•
International Food Ingredients – http://www.ifi-online.com;
•
Fruit Processing Magazine – http://www.fruit-processing.com.
Some interesting associations for exporters of canned fruit and vegetables are:
•
Organisation of the European Industries Transforming Fruit and Vegetables (OEITFL) –
http://www.oeitfl.org;
•
Confederation of the Food and Drink Industry in the EU (CIAA) – http://www.ciaa.be.
General information on doing business like approaching potential business partners, building
up a relationship, drawing up an offer, handling a contract (methods of payment, and terms of
delivery) can be found in CBI’s export manuals ‘Export Planner’ and ‘Your image builder’.
Cultural awareness is a critical skill in securing success as an exporter. Information on cultural
differences in the EU can be found in Chapter 3 of CBI’s export manual ‘Exporting to the EU’.
These manuals can be downloaded from http://www.cbi.eu/marketinfo - go to ‘Search
Publications’.
Source: CBI Market Information Database • URL:
www.cbi.eu
• Contact: [email protected] • www.cbi.eu/disclaimer
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CBI MARKET SURVEY:
THE EU MARKET FOR CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
Also, the internet provides many sources on business practices and culture, such as http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/country-profiles.html.- Please keep in mind that
these pages provide only general guidance and therefore, when conducting business, it is
important to use intuition and an understanding attitude.
This survey was compiled for CBI by Mercadero
Disclaimer CBI market information tools: http://www.cbi.eu/disclaimer
Source: CBI Market Information Database • URL:
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CBI MARKET SURVEY:
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Appendix A General product description
Canning is a widely used method to increase the storage life of fruit and vegetables. During
the canning process, micro-organisms are inactivated by applying heat up to a specified
temperature (pasteurisation or sterilisation). This product group includes fruit and vegetables
in closed containers, which may be metal cans, glass jars and, increasingly, flexible pouch
packs. Tomatoes, peas, beans and carrots are the most popular canned vegetables. The main
canned fruit varieties are pineapples, peaches, apricots and fruit mixes. Relatively new species
are lychees, and mandarins and other citrus fruits.
Vegetable products can also be preserved as pickles by means of acidification, which creates
unfavourable conditions for the growth of micro-organisms. Pickles are also included in this
category. The most popular pickles are gherkins, cocktail onions, carrots, sweet peppers and
celery.
Product groups
This product survey covers those product groups of canned fruit and vegetables which are of
interest to developing country producers. The choice of groups was made based on trade data,
competitor analysis and whether there is a market for the particular fruit in Europe.
In this survey, trade data based on the Combined Nomenclature are used. These data are
provided by Eurostat, the statistical body of the EU. The abbreviation CN stands for Combined
Nomenclature. This Combined Nomenclature contains the goods classification prescribed by the
EU for international trade statistics. The CN is an 8-digit classification consisting of a further
specification of the 6-digit Harmonised System (HS). HS was developed by the World Customs
Organisation (WCO). The system covers about 5,000 commodity groups, each identified by a
six-digit code. More than 179 countries and economies use the system. The relation between
the names used throughout the report and the adjoined official product definition with HS
codes are given in the table below.
Product groups
1. Canned fruit
Pickled fruit
Pineapples
Citrus fruit
Pears
Apricots
Cherries
Peaches including nectarines
Strawberries
Mixtures and other
Canned fruit
2. Canned vegetables
Pickled cucumbers and gherkins
Other pickled vegetables
Tomatoes
Mushrooms
Homogenised vegetables
Peas
Beans
Asparagus
Olives
Sweet corn
Other canned vegetables and mixtures
Palm hearts
Source: CBI Market Information Database • URL:
HS codes
2001, 2008
20019010/91/96
200820
200830
200840
200850
200860
200870
200880
200892, 20089911/19/21/23/24/25/26/28/
32/33/34/36/37/38/40/41/43/45/46/47/49/
51/53/55/61/62/67/68/72/74/78/79/91/99
2001, 2002, 2005, 2008
20011000
200120, 20019020/30/40/50/60/65/70/75/85/93/99
200210/90
20031030/80, 200320/90
200510
200540
200551/59
200560
200570
200580
200590/91/99, 20089985
200891
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