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. Source: CBI Market Information Database • URL: www.cbi.eu • Contact: [email protected] • www.cbi.eu/disclaimer Page 1 of 19 Preserved fruit and vegetables CBI MARKET SURVEY: 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. Source: CBI Market Information Database • URL: www.cbi.eu • Contact: [email protected] • www.cbi.eu/disclaimer Page 2 of 19 Preserved fruit and vegetables CBI MARKET SURVEY: 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. Source: CBI Market Information Database • URL: www.cbi.eu • Contact: [email protected] • www.cbi.eu/disclaimer Page 3 of 19 Preserved fruit and vegetables CBI MARKET SURVEY: THE EU MARKET FOR CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES 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. Source: CBI Market Information Database • URL: www.cbi.eu • Contact: [email protected] • www.cbi.eu/disclaimer Page 4 of 19 Preserved fruit and vegetables CBI MARKET SURVEY: THE EU MARKET FOR CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES 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. Source: CBI Market Information Database • URL: www.cbi.eu • Contact: [email protected] • www.cbi.eu/disclaimer Page 5 of 19 Preserved fruit and vegetables CBI MARKET SURVEY: THE EU MARKET FOR CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES 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. Source: CBI Market Information Database • URL: www.cbi.eu • Contact: [email protected] • www.cbi.eu/disclaimer Page 6 of 19 Preserved fruit and vegetables CBI MARKET SURVEY: THE EU MARKET FOR CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES – – – 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). Source: CBI Market Information Database • URL: www.cbi.eu • Contact: [email protected] • www.cbi.eu/disclaimer Page 7 of 19 Preserved fruit and vegetables CBI MARKET SURVEY: THE EU MARKET FOR CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES 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. Source: CBI Market Information Database • URL: www.cbi.eu • Contact: [email protected] • www.cbi.eu/disclaimer Page 8 of 19 Preserved fruit and vegetables CBI MARKET SURVEY: THE EU MARKET FOR CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES 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. Source: CBI Market Information Database • URL: www.cbi.eu • Contact: [email protected] • www.cbi.eu/disclaimer Page 9 of 19 Preserved fruit and vegetables CBI MARKET SURVEY: THE EU MARKET FOR CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES 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 • Contact: [email protected] • www.cbi.eu/disclaimer Page 10 of 19 Preserved fruit and vegetables CBI MARKET SURVEY: 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% • Contact: [email protected] • www.cbi.eu/disclaimer Page 11 of 19 Preserved fruit and vegetables CBI MARKET SURVEY: THE EU MARKET FOR CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES 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: www.cbi.eu • Contact: [email protected] • www.cbi.eu/disclaimer Page 12 of 19 Preserved fruit and vegetables CBI MARKET SURVEY: THE EU MARKET FOR CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES 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 • Contact: [email protected] • www.cbi.eu/disclaimer Page 13 of 19 Preserved fruit and vegetables 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 • Contact: [email protected] • www.cbi.eu/disclaimer Page 14 of 19 Preserved fruit and vegetables 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: www.cbi.eu • Contact: [email protected] • www.cbi.eu/disclaimer Page 15 of 19 Preserved fruit and vegetables CBI MARKET SURVEY: THE EU MARKET FOR CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES 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 • Contact: [email protected] • www.cbi.eu/disclaimer Page 16 of 19 Preserved fruit and vegetables CBI MARKET SURVEY: THE EU MARKET FOR CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES 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 Page 17 of 19 Preserved fruit and vegetables 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: www.cbi.eu • Contact: [email protected] • www.cbi.eu/disclaimer Page 18 of 19 Preserved fruit and vegetables CBI MARKET SURVEY: THE EU MARKET FOR CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES 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 www.cbi.eu • Contact: [email protected] • www.cbi.eu/disclaimer Page 19 of 19
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