What is the demand for processed fruit and vegetables on the European market?

The European processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts market has almost recovered after a few years of decline due to price inflation. European production is not enough to meet demand, creating opportunities for suppliers from developing countries. Countries with the best business opportunities and that import the most processed fruit, vegetables and edible nut products are Germany, the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy. Olive products, dates, frozen strawberries, cashew nuts and coconut products offer the greatest export potential.

1. What makes Europe an interesting market for processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts?

Europe is by far the largest world market for processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts, accounting for nearly half of world supplies. Europe is an attractive market due to its size and its good prospects for suppliers from developing countries.

Europe is the largest and most expensive market for processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts

Europe is the world’s largest market player in processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts, absorbing more global supplies than the other continents. In 2024, European imports of these products accounted for 47.02% of global imports in value. Asia came second, with 25.75%, followed by North America with 18.48%, Latin America and the Caribbean with 4.46%, Africa with 2.34% and Oceania with 1.96%.

Source: Autentika Global based on ITC Trade Map, 2025

Imports to Europe continue to show strong growth. At the same time, Europe is also losing a small amount of global market share. This is because imports to Asia are increasing at an even faster rate. Economic growth projections in Africa and Asia are higher than for Europe, as their markets are growing more rapidly. Even so, Europe continues to be an attractive market for sustainable and value-added products. For example, average import prices for processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts products in Europe are 60% higher than in Africa and 30% higher than in Asia.

Due to its continental climate, Europe is limited to producing and processing continental fruit, vegetables and nuts. This means consumption of processed tropical and subtropical fruit and tropical vegetables and nuts is entirely dependent on imports. The prices of most imported tropical products are also higher than those of local European products. For example, the import price of dried mangoes is nearly double the price of dried apricots, and the import price of macadamia nuts is almost three times higher than of walnuts. 

Imports from developing countries are increasing

Between 2020 and 2024, the value of imports of processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts into Europe grew by 8% annually. During the same period, import volumes grew at a much slower rate of 1% due to price inflation caused by the war in Ukraine. In 2024, the value of imported processed fruit, vegetables and nuts reached €57 billion, including intra-European trade. Approximately 78% of all processed fruit and vegetables imported from outside Europe came from developing countries. In 2024, these imports from developing countries reached a value of €17.7 billion.

Source: Autentika Global, based on Eurostat COMEXT and Trade Map, 2025

Developing countries account for almost a third of the European trade in processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts, and this share is growing steadily. Furthermore, the majority of intra-European trade consists of re-exports of processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts originally imported from developing countries. European imports of processed fruit and vegetables from developing countries are expected to grow at an annual rate of 4% to 6% in the next 5 years, varying by product category.

Europe is well-equipped for importing processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts

The most important ports for processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts in Europe are Hamburg (Germany), Rotterdam (the Netherlands), Felixstowe (the United Kingdom), Antwerp (Belgium), Algeciras (Spain) and Marseille (France). The largest European port is the Port of Rotterdam, which provides logistics for foreign exporters. Many companies specialised in handling and storing processed fruit and vegetables have their own terminals in the Port of Rotterdam. The ports of Antwerp and Hamburg also have quite a lot of relevance for this sector. 

Some terminals at the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam are specifically designed for handling juices. They have pipes and pumps for transferring juice from ships to storage containers. They also offer other services such as temperature control, aseptic storage tanks, equipment for crushing frozen products, filling and mixing devices, loading equipment and laboratories. Several European companies in the frozen fruit and vegetables sub-sector also have their own terminals in Antwerp and Hamburg.They are specialised in the handling and storage of frozen products.

The Port of Algeciras in Spain is being used more and more to quickly transport North African imports to other European regions. This port was ranked the most efficient container port in Europe in 2024 by the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI).

Demand for sustainable products is increasing

Several niche market segments offer opportunities for products that are sustainably produced. This includes production that applies specific agricultural methods or that is environmentally friendly. Also in this category are production systems that guarantee fair payment of farmers, respect for human rights and good labour conditions. There are also a growing number of products which explicitly claim they meet specific dietary needs, such as free of gluten, sugar or artificial colours. 

The organic market is recovering

According to data from the European Commission, total imports of organic processed fruit and vegetables (including fruit, vegetable and nut oils) are increasing again after a brief slump in 2022 and 2023. Imports increased from 327,000 tonnes in 2023 to 360,000 tonnes in 2024. Table 1 shows the top 10 most imported types of organic processed fruit and vegetables in terms of volume. 

Table 1: Top 10 organic processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts products imported into Europe from non-European countries in 2024, in tonnes

Source: Autentika Global, based on Eurostat data, 2025

After a temporary stagnation, import volumes of organic products are increasing again. Examples of organic products with strong import growth rates are:

• Extra virgin olive oil;
• Banana pulp;
• Hazelnuts;
• Concentrated tomato paste;
• Tropical and citrus juices;
• Coconut oil, mango pulp;
• Grape juice;
• Peanut butter.

Organic certification schemes are more and more popular in Europe. Organic products were once considered a niche market, but are now becoming mainstream. Many European countries have several retail chains specialised in exclusive sales of organic products. Boosting organic food production and consumption is also part of official EU Farm to Fork Strategy to achieve Sustainable Food Production. Among other things, this EU strategy aims for 25% of EU agricultural land to be under organic farming by 2030.

Source: Autentika Global, based on Eurostat data, 2025

The leading suppliers of organic processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts to Europe are:

• Tunisia (olive oil, dates);
• Türkiye (dried grapes, apple juice, sour cherry juice, dried apricots);
• Serbia (frozen raspberries);
• Ukraine (frozen wild blueberries);
• Ecuador (banana pulp);
• Mexico (frozen orange juice);
• Sri Lanka (coconut milk, coconut oil);
• China (peanuts);
• Costa Rica (banana pulp);
• The Philippines (coconut oil);
• Peru (passion fruit juice);
• Morocco (frozen strawberries, frozen tomato).

The top 10 organic processed fruit, vegetable and nut products, imported from countries where CBI is active, are presented in the table below. Other organic products sourced from these countries with trade potential include:

• Passion fruit juice;
• Mango purée;
• Frozen orange juice;
• Frozen tomatoes;
• Frozen mango cubes;
• Macadamia nuts;
• Dried tropical fruit;
• Banana pulp;
• Vegetable oils (such as avocado oil);
• Oils. 

Table 2: Top 10 organic processed fruit, vegetable and nut products imported into Europe from countries where CBI was active in 2025, in tonnes

Source: Autentika Global, based on Eurostat data

The growth of sustainability certification 

As sustainability is a broad term with many elements, there is no single standard sustainability certification covering all of them. Currently, there are over 231 eco-labels in use in Europe. One common practice is to state CO2 emission rates on products, though such claims are difficult to verify. 

The European Commission published a proposal for a Directive on Green Claims in 2023 in order to standardise voluntary green claims. As of mid-2025, the future of the proposal is not certain. In June 2025, the Commission announced its intention to withdraw the proposal, citing political pressure. This led to the cancellation of final negotiations with the Parliament and Council. Until the discussion is resolved, the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition and Unfair Commercial Practices directives will continue to serve as fallback regulations for green claims.

According to Innova Market Insights, and ANUGA 2025 trends consumers are more and more concerned about sustainability issues. Among surveyed European consumers, 2 in 5 respondents said they cared about ethical values when it came to their diet. Especially Millennials (born roughly between 1981 and 1996) are willing to pay more for sustainable brands. They look for food that has been produced with attention to animal welfare, water shortages, ocean pollution and deforestation.

The number of Fairtrade-certified companies in the processed fruit, vegetables and nuts sector decreased slightly in 2025 compared to 2024. As of December 2025, the FLOCERT database listed more than 5,600 certified companies. This is a decrease of around 300 companies compared to 2024. To increase sales in Europe, Fairtrade International launched several projects aimed at increasing recognition of Fairtrade-certified products. In February 2025, after a campaign in Germany, sales of Fairtrade products increased by 25%. 

Table 3: Number of Fairtrade-certified companies in the processed fruit and vegetables sector in 2025

Source: Autentika Global based on FLOCERT database, December 2025

European processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts production is insufficient to meet demand

European countries do not have the weather conditions needed to cultivate tropical fruit and vegetables. Because of this they depend heavily on imports from tropical and semi-tropical countries. Only a few types of processed fruit and vegetables have any major production in Europe such as olive oil, jams, apple juices or tomato products. The strongest import dependency is in dried fruit and edible nuts. Here the share of domestic production in total consumption is less than 10%.

Table 4: Trade balance of the most produced processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts in Europe, including intra-European trade, 2024

Source: Autentika Global based on Eurostat, ITC Trade Map and industry sources, 2025

As table 4 shows, there is not enough being produced of most products in Europe to meet European demand. Volumes of European domestic fruit and vegetable processing also show no clear upward trend. So suppliers outside Europe are needed to satisfy European market demand. This creates opportunities for producers of the following products:

• Hazelnuts
• Walnuts
• Frozen berries
• Prunes
• Figs
• Apple juice
• Canned pears
• Canned apricots
• Tomato purée;
• Pickled cucumbers.

Suppliers from developing countries should be aware that they face strong competition from traditional supplying countries. For example, apple juice is mainly imported in huge amounts from China, prunes from the USA, Chile and Argentina, frozen fruit from Serbia and Egypt, and walnuts from the USA and Chile. 

As a result of the trade tariffs announced by the US in April 2025, there were some structural changes in import volumes for a number of products imported to Europe. For example, the US did not rank highly as a supplier of canned tomatoes in 2025. A larger share of imports were sourced from North African countries instead. This happened because – in response to the US’s tariffs on steel and aluminium – the EU introduced ‘rebalancing’ tariffs on a range of US agri-food products. This includes tomato ketchup and other tomato sauces. 

European competition is limited

Processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts production is limited in Europe. However, a number of countries produce large amounts of certain products. The largest European fruit and vegetable processors are Spain, Italy, Poland, Belgium, France, Portugal and Greece.

Spain is the leading supplier of olive oil and table olives in Europe. It also produces and exports other products, such as canned fruit, citrus fruits, frozen and canned vegetables, processed tomatoes, and jams and purées. Spain is also the leading producer of almonds, dried peaches and citrus fruit in Europe. Most citrus fruit is sold fresh, but around 20% is processed into juices.

Italy is the largest European producer and exporter of processed tomato products, including canned tomatoes, pastes, purées and juice. The country is a large producer of canned beans, hazelnuts, table olives, Mediterranean pine nuts and dried figs. Italy is also the world’s second-largest exporter of olive oil. However, Italian domestic production does not cover this volume of exports, and the country therefore imports almost double the amount it exports. In addition, Italy is the world’s largest exporter of not-from-concentrate grape juice and the leading producer of preserved artichokes.

France is the leading producer of canned vegetables in Europe, and home to Bonduelle, the French-owned leading supplier of European canned products. France is also a significant producer and exporter of, among other products, jams, walnuts, prunes and fruit juices. For example, it is the largest European processor of imported pineapple juice. It also has a strong frozen food offer. For example, Picard Surgelés, a producer and retail distributor of frozen products, has over 900 stores in France. 

Greece is the world’s leading supplier of canned peaches and apricots. It is also the second-largest European producer of dried figs and table olives, the third-largest producer of olive oil, and a leading supplier of dried grapes (currants). 

Poland is the leading supplier of frozen strawberries and black and red currants in Europe. It is also a leading producer of apple juice and apples. The price of Polish apple juice tends to be higher than that of apple juice imported from China thanks to a more favourable balance of sugar and acidity. 

Some other relevant suppliers are Belgium (frozen vegetables), Bulgaria (cherries preserved in alcohol and canned sweet corn), Portugal (olive oil, tomato paste and almonds) and Hungary (frozen sweetcorn, apple juice, preserved and frozen sour cherries).

2. Which European markets offer the most opportunities for processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts?

Germany and the Netherlands are Europe’s main importers of processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts, making them interesting focus markets. Both markets get large shares of imports from developing countries. The Netherlands re-exports most imported products. Germany is also a major re-exporter, but it is also the largest consumer and processor of imported products. Italy, the United Kingdom (UK), Spain and France are other promising markets, with large shares of imports supplied by developing countries. 

Source: Autentika Global based on Eurostat COMEXT and Trade Map, 2025

Germany is the largest European market for processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts 

Germany is by far the largest importer of processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts in Europe. They had an import value of €10.2 billion in 2024, accounting for 18% of all European imports in this category. More than half of these imports are from other countries in Europe, while 34% of direct imports come from developing countries. In terms of value, edible nuts are the largest product group in German imports. In terms of volume, canned and preserved fruit and vegetables are the leading product category.

Source: Autentika Global based on ITC Trade Map data, 2025

Germany is the leading market in Europe for edible nuts. Germany has good opportunities for suppliers from developing countries. Within the edible nuts category, cashew nut kernels and pistachios offer especially good opportunities. This is because Germany is the largest European importer and market for these nuts. Germany is home to several large nut roasting and packaging companies such as Omnitrade, Seeberger and Intersnack Group. As the leading chocolate producer in Europe, it also offers good opportunities for hazelnut suppliers. Hazelnuts are a popular ingredient in chocolate bars.

German imports of canned and prepared fruit and vegetables come mostly from other European countries. The best opportunities in this category for suppliers from developing countries are in the following products:

• Tropical fruit purées (mango and avocado in particular);
• Pickled cucumber;
• Table olives;
• Preserved capsicums (sweet and chilli);
• Canned asparagus;
• Canned pineapples.

Germany is also Europe’s leading fruit juice market, with a very strong and growing organic juice offer. Even more popular than tropical and citrus flavours is apple juice, mainly sourced from China and Poland. Juice ingredients such as coconut water, passion fruit concentrate and banana pulp give excellent opportunities for suppliers from developing countries. Not-from-concentrate and organic juices are other top-performing categories. Drinks ingredients such as frozen fruit, curcumin and ginger also provide good opportunities for suppliers from developing countries.

Türkiye, Brazil, China, Vietnam and Serbia are the leading developing countries supplying processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts to Germany. Türkiye is a very strong supplier of several products due to its large production and population and trade network with Germany. In this sector, dried grapes, hazelnuts, dried apricots and pickled vegetables are Türkiye’s main exports to Germany. Türkiye also supplies Germany with processed paprika products such as pepper-based condiments and spreads, as well as jarred peppers in vinegar solutions. 

Dried goji berries, dried vegetables (including mushrooms), canned fruit (such as lychee) and frozen vegetables are the leading products in this sector imported to Germany from China. Orange juice is predominantly imported from Brazil while cashew kernels are imported largely from Vietnam.

As highlighted in the CBI trends study, German suppliers are actively searching for new sourcing origins in order to ensure sufficient supplies and be less impacted by climate-related changes. Some developing-country suppliers with the highest export growth rates to Germany in the 2020-2024 period included:

• Türkiye (hazelnut purée, pistachios);
• Brazil (peanuts, acai berry purée, acerola juice);
• Serbia (frozen sour cherries, freeze-dried berries, pickled cucumbers, sauerkraut);
• Ukraine (concentrated apple juice, frozen wild blueberries, walnuts, processed tomatoes);
• Egypt (dried onion, in-shell groundnuts, freeze-dried strawberries);
• Vietnam (passion fruit juice, frozen tropical fruit, canned lychee);
• Côte d’Ivoire (cashew nut kernels, dried coconut slices).

Sustainability niche market segments in Germany

Germany strongly supports sustainability and is Europe’s biggest market for organic products. It also has the highest rate of packaging waste recycling in Europe, at 160 kg per capita annually. The country’s ‘the Green Dot’ (Der Grüne Punkt) labelling system is one of the most successful recycling initiatives globally, requiring producers and retailers that use more non-recyclable packaging to pay a higher fee for the ‘Green Dot’ label.

As Europe’s largest market for organic products, Germany offers good opportunities for organic processed fruit vegetables and edible nuts suppliers. Germany imported 427,000 tonnes of organic food in 2023, approximately 31% of which was organic processed fruit and vegetables. Germany’s top organic processed fruit and vegetable imports in 2024 included:

• Dried sultanas (8,700 tonnes);
• Cashew nuts (6,300 tonnes);
• Crude palm oil (5,000 tonnes);
• Dates (4,800 tonnes);
• Hazelnut kernels (3,600 tonnes);
• Frozen strawberries (3,500 tonnes);
• Frozen raspberries (3,600 tonnes).

The Netherlands: the trade hub of Europe

The Netherlands is Europe’s second-largest importer of processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts from developing countries. However, most of these imports are not consumed within the country but are re-exported to other markets in Europe. It may seem attractive to sell directly to end-recipients instead of going through Dutch importers. But many end-recipients import smaller amounts and refuse to import from anywhere but Europe. This makes the Netherlands a very attractive export destination. 

Source: Autentika Global based on ITC Trade Map data, 2025

Fruit juices are the largest processed fruit and vegetables category imported by the Netherlands. Within this category, the top import product is concentrated orange juice from Brazil. Other popular juices are lemon, grapefruit and tropical juices (passion fruit, pineapple and mango). The juice market is quite concentrated and major bottlers (such as Refresco) are supplied directly by large companies in Brazil and elsewhere. Opportunities can be found in the supply of superfruit ingredients (such as acerola and curcuma juice), tropical frozen fruit and mango purée.

The Netherlands is Europe’s leading importer of shelled groundnuts (peanuts) and the second-largest cashew nut and macadamia nuts market, offering excellent opportunities for suppliers from developing countries. It is important to note that the Netherlands is mainly a transit country for imported nuts, which are re-exported to other European countries. Pecan nuts are also interesting for export. This is because the Netherlands is the largest European market for pecan nuts, although the US dominates this market. 

Leading developing-country suppliers of processed fruit and vegetables to the Netherlands between 2020 and 2024 included:

• Brazil (orange juice, groundnuts, acerola juice, mango pulp);
• Argentina (groundnuts, lemon juice, orange juice, grape juice);
• Türkiye (sultanas, hazelnuts, apple juice, orange juice, hazelnut paste);
• Vietnam (cashew nuts, frozen mango, passion fruit juice, coconut water);
• China (groundnuts, dried vegetables, dried grapes, prepared soybeans);
• South Africa (orange juice, grapefruit juice, dried grapes, pineapple juice);
• India (mango pulp, cashew nuts, groundnuts, pickled cucumbers).

The sustainability market and other initiatives in the Netherlands 

The Netherlands is also an important European market for retail sales of Fairtrade products. Wageningen University & Research’s Supermarket Sustainability Dashboard tracks how sustainability is handled in Dutch retail. It brings together data on the sustainability goals, actions and results of major Dutch supermarket chains. This data focuses on themes like biodiversity, CO2 reduction, ecolabels and circularity. The dashboard offers practical, up-to-date information on how Dutch retailers measure and compare their progress. 

The Netherlands also has various sustainability initiatives. For example, IDH has developed several sustainability programmes for edible nuts and juices (in partnership with the European Fruit Juice Association). 

The United Kingdom: the largest consumer of dried fruit

The United Kingdom (UK) is the second-largest consumer of processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts in Europe, and the third-largest importer in this sector from developing countries. The country is a leading European importer of dried fruit and canned and frozen vegetables. Leading suppliers from developing countries to the UK are Türkiye (dried grapes, dried apricots, canned vegetables and pickled cucumbers), Brazil (orange juice) and China (groundnuts and frozen vegetables).

In 2024, imports of processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts to the United Kingdom reached 3 million tonnes and a value of €6 billion. This was a significant increase of 15% in value and 5% in volume compared to 2023. The leading import product by value was extra virgin olive oil (€257 million), followed by:

• Orange juice with less than 20° Brix (€363 million);
• Not-from-concentrate orange juice (€336 million);
• Canned tomatoes (€193 million);
• Frozen broccoli and cauliflower (€180 million);
• Groundnuts (€ 177 million). 

The UK is the largest importer of dried grapes (85,000 tonnes in 2024). Tropical fruit and berries processed in various forms (frozen, juice, purée) provide good opportunities for suppliers from developing countries. The UK is the largest market in Europe for smoothies and one of the largest for coconut water.

Developing-country suppliers with the highest growth rates in the UK in the 2020-2024 period included:

• Brazil (groundnuts, orange juice, mango and guava purée);
• Philippines (coconut milk, coconut water, desiccated coconuts, canned tropical fruit);
• Vietnam (cashew nuts, frozen tropical fruit, passion fruit juice, coconut water);
• Egypt (frozen strawberries, canned tomatoes, frozen okra and other frozen vegetables);
• Costa Rica (pineapple juice, frozen pineapple chunks, banana purée);
• Indonesia (desiccated coconuts, pineapple juice, coconut milk).

Sustainability market and initiatives in the United Kingdom

The UK remains one of Europe’s largest Fairtrade markets. In 2024, UK sales of Fairtrade products generated over £28 million in Fairtrade Premium for producers. UK shoppers can buy almost 5,000 Fairtrade-marked products at various major retailers. In 2024, the UK organic market grew by 7.3% to £3.7 billion. Major supermarket (multiple retail) sales reached £2.43 billion, increasing by 8% compared to 2023.

France: the leading consumer of walnuts and dates 

The French market for processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts is almost as large as the UK market. Processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts imports to France increased by 5% in 2024 compared to 2023. In 2024, France imported 3.01 million tonnes of these products, at a value of €6.01 billion. France’s leading suppliers are other European countries: Spain (orange juice, olive oil, frozen vegetables), Belgium (frozen vegetables) and Italy (preserved tomatoes, olive oil).

The leading developing countries exporting to France in this segment are Brazil, Türkiye, Morocco and China. Orange juice is mostly supplied by Brazil. The top export products from Morocco to France are canned apricots, table olives and frozen strawberries. Türkiye mainly supplies hazelnuts, dried apricots and grapes and pickled cucumbers. China supplies frozen vegetables, canned exotic fruit, dried mushrooms and canned bamboo shoots.

The fruit juice segment provides opportunities for pineapple juice suppliers, as France is a leading consumer of this product in Europe. The apparent consumption (disparity between imports and exports) of pineapple juice reached 34,000 tonnes in 2024. In the category of edible nuts, France is Europe’s largest consumer of walnuts, but a considerable share is produced domestically (more than 16,000 tonnes in 2024). In the dried fruits category, there are specific opportunities in supplying dried apricots, dates and dried figs, as France is the leading importer and user of these products in Europe. France is also Europe’s largest importer of table olives.

Developing-country suppliers with the highest export growth rates in France in the 2020-2024 period included:

• Egypt (frozen strawberries, table olives, preserved artichoke hearts);
• Vietnam (cashew nuts, frozen tropical fruit, passion fruit juice);
• Ukraine (walnuts, frozen berries, frozen mushrooms);
• Cameroon (canned green beans);
• Côte d’Ivoire (cashew nuts);
• Sri Lanka (desiccated coconuts).

Spain: a strong importer of North African products 

Spain is the sixth-largest importer of processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts in Europe and an important re-exporter to other European countries. Spain is also a strong producer of several product types in this sector, for example table olives, olive oil, citrus juices and almonds. In 2024, Spanish imports of processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts reached 1.6 million tonnes at a value of €4.5 billion. Imports from developing countries account for 41% of this total. 

Tunisia, Türkiye, China and Peru are the leading suppliers in developing countries. Tunisia’s main exports in this segment are dates and olive oil. Peru is a strong supplier of canned asparagus and artichokes. Türkiye is Spain’s leading supplier of olive oil, hazelnuts and sultanas. Morocco supplies table olives, frozen strawberries and olive oil.

Developing-country suppliers with the highest export growth rates in Spain in the 2020-2024 period included:

• Egypt (table olives, olive oil, orange juice, preserved artichoke hearts);
• Türkiye (olive oil, hazelnuts, sultanas);
• Vietnam (cashew nuts, coconut water);
• Ukraine (apple juice);
• Syria (olive oil);
• Colombia (mango pulp, banana pulp).

Italy: both importer and producer

Italy is Europe’s fifth-largest importer of processed fruit and vegetables, but differs from other top importers in that it is also a major producer and processor of fruit and vegetables. Besides producing the leading products in this sector itself, it imports them to ensure steady supplies. Leading suppliers to Italy are Spain, Greece, China, the US and Türkiye.

The leading products exported from Spain to Italy are almonds and olive oil. The main products imported from Greece are table olives, olive oil and canned peaches. Türkiye’s major export to Italy is hazelnuts, most of which is intended for international confectionary companies. The US is the leading supplier of almonds. An example is Ferrero, which uses hazelnuts as an ingredient in sweet spreads. Tomato purée is the major Chinese import, used to complement the Italian production of purées and tomato sauces (tomato passata). 

Italy is the largest European market and processor of chestnuts, table olives, hazelnuts and processed tomatoes. It is also the second-largest producer and largest importer of olive oil in Europe. Within this sector there are specific opportunities in organic olive oil. Italy also uses large quantities of pine nuts for the production of pesto, though other comparatively cheaper nuts, such as cashews and almonds, are often substituted. Organic and vegan products have a very high market growth in Italy. 

Developing-country suppliers with the highest export growth rates in Italy in the 2020-2024 period included:

• Egypt (groundnuts, preserved artichoke hearts, table olives, orange juice);
• Iran (tomato paste, pistachios, sultanas);
• Serbia (hazelnuts, frozen sour cherries);
• Ukraine (frozen wild blueberries, frozen raspberries, frozen blackberries);
• Côte d’Ivoire (cashew nuts);
• Albania (olive oil);
• India (mango purée).

Other potentially promising markets

Poland and Belgium are the only 2 countries in Europe that can be considered medium-sized importers of fruit and vegetables. The major Belgian imports in this segment are orange juice, canned mushrooms and frozen vegetables. Poland is a strong importer of groundnuts, apple juice and extra virgin olive oil. Both countries also produce many of the same products they import, using imports to supplement domestic production. For example, Belgium is both the largest producer of frozen vegetables in Europe and a large re-exporter of these products. Poland is also a major frozen fruit producer.

Austria is another European market with opportunities for suppliers in developing countries. Although the Austrian population is relatively small compared to other European markets, its fruit juice processing industry is well-developed and provides opportunities for developing countries to supply raw materials, such as purées, concentrated juices and frozen fruit. The Austrian Agrana group owns Austria Juice, the world’s leading producer of fruit preparations. 

Last and most importantly, Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) have been showing the strongest growth in processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts imports. Among the countries in this region, Croatia, Slovenia and Romania showed the strongest import increases, with an average annual growth rate of 15% between 2020 and 2024. The top import product in this segment in Croatia is tomato purée; in Slovenia it is frozen raspberries, in Romania table olives.

3. Which products from developing countries have the most potential in the European processed fruit and vegetable market?

The products from developing countries that have the most potential in the European market are:

• Frozen fruit (tropical fruit and berries)
• Canned tropical fruit (especially pineapple)
• Dates
• Tropical dried fruit (such as pineapple and mango)
• Cashew nuts
• Coconut products (desiccated coconuts, coconut water, coconut milk and coconut oil)
• Olive products (olive oil and table olives).

It is important to note that, besides these 7 product categories, there are many more products offering opportunities for developing-country suppliers.

Source: Eurostat COMEXT and Trade Map, 2025

Olive products (table olives and olive oil)

Despite being the largest olive producer, Europe is also importing growing volumes of olive oil and table olives. This is because domestic production cannot satisfy demand. Over the last 3 years, the import value of olive oil and table olives from developing countries to Europe has doubled. Almost all olive oil and table olives imported from outside Europe come from developing countries.

Table 5: European imports of table olives, in million €

Source: Eurostat and ITC Trade Map, 2025

The main competitors for emerging table olive suppliers are in Europe, namely in Spain and Greece. Over 70% of all European table olives are supplied by these 2 countries. Leading non-European suppliers are Türkiye, Morocco and Egypt. Though it is ranked as the sixth-largest exporter, Italy actually imports more than it exports. Besides the leading producers of table olives, there are also emerging suppliers to the European market, such as Albania, Argentina, Syria, Lebanon and Peru.

Table 6: European imports of olive oil, in € million

Source: Eurostat and ITC Trade Map, 2025

The European olive oil trade accounts for more than half of the global trade. In the long term, the European olive oil and table olives market is expected to show a stable growth of 3-5%. The growing consumer interest in olive oil and table olives in Europe has 3 main combined driving forces. These are:

• Growing popularity of the Mediterranean diet;
• Increasing awareness of olive products’ health benefits;
• Interest in different varieties of olives and olive oil.

Dates and tropical dried fruit

Europe is an attractive market for subtropical and tropical dried fruits and is fully dependent on imports as weather conditions do not allow for production in Europe. Dates are particularly popular in Europe and demand for them is increasing. They are mainly popular for their sweetness. They are also used as a natural source of energy, sugar substitute, fruit bar ingredient and cooking ingredient. There are export opportunities for dates to France, the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy and Belgium. 

In 2024, Europe accounted for 29% of the global date import market by value. Meanwhile, import volumes reached 233,000 tonnes, with a value of €654 million. Industrial use of dates and dates paste as a natural sweetener is driving stable growth of dates. 

Table 7: European imports of dates, in million €

Source: Eurostat and ITC Trade Map, 2025

European countries do not produce dates. Because of this, most dates are imported from developing countries. Suppliers from emerging origins have to compete with Algeria and Tunisia, which are the leading European suppliers. The most popular date varieties in Europe are Deglet Nour and Medjool. But other varieties are being imported more often from Iran, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Imports of natural dried tropical fruit (with no added sugar) are increasing. However, there are no official data or trade statistics on this. The most popular product in this category is dried mango, followed by dried pineapple. Europe imports around 9,000 tonnes of natural dried mango, with Ghana, Burkina Faso, South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire as leading suppliers. Imports of natural dried pineapple are estimated to be around 1,500 tonnes, with Ghana as the leading supplier. 

Other ‘exotic’ dried fruits are dried (fried) banana chips and coconut chips. Dried kaki (persimmon) are also offered, sourced mostly from West and Central Asian countries (Azerbaijan). Most imported tropical dried fruit is still imported as sugar-infused or candied, with Thailand as the leading supplier. 

Frozen fruit (strawberries and tropical fruit)

The increasing popularity of smoothies as a healthy breakfast option, combined with large industrial demand, are the leading drivers of growing interest in frozen fruit in Europe. 

Demand for frozen strawberries has strongly increased. Frozen strawberries are used as an ingredient in the jam industry, and as raw material for freeze-dried strawberries. Consumption of other frozen berries (raspberries, blueberries and blackberries) is growing due to their health benefits and use in easy-to-prepare meals, such as smoothies. 

Frozen tropical fruit is used in the production of fruit preparations, smoothies and bakery fillings, among other things. 

Table 8: European imports of frozen strawberries, in million €

Source: Eurostat and ITC Trade Map, 2025

Europe is the largest frozen food market in the world, making up one third of total global imports. Large importing and consuming countries such as Germany, the Netherlands and France opportunities for exporters from developing countries. Poland is the leading producer of frozen strawberries in Europe. But it also imports more and more frozen strawberries as domestic production is decreasing. As Europe’s leading organic market, Germany offers specific opportunities for organically certified frozen fruit.

Frozen berry imports and consumption are particularly large in Europe. By volume, the most consumed products in this segment are strawberries, followed by blackberries, raspberries and blueberries. Frozen berries are also a popular superfruit and widely used in healthy drinks (smoothies). Other products that have grown by a lot are frozen cubes and purées of tropical fruit such as papaya, mango and passion fruit. 

Leading suppliers of frozen berries from developing countries to Europe are:

• Serbia (sour cherries, raspberries and blackberries);
• Morocco (strawberries);
• Egypt (strawberries);
• Ukraine (wild blueberries).

Leading suppliers of frozen tropical fruit are:

• Vietnam (mango);
• Peru (mango);
• India (mango purée);
• Ecuador (banana, papaya and pineapple);
• Mali (mango).

Cashew nuts

European cashews nut imports are growing. This is mostly due to the consumers eating more healthier food and vegan proteins. Demand for cashew nuts in Europe is being driven by the popularity of healthy snacking, their pleasant taste and use of nuts as substitutes for animal proteins. Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, France, Spain and Italy are the largest European markets for cashews. Central and Eastern Europe are smaller but growing markets, also offering opportunities, especially for new suppliers. 

Table 9: European imports of cashew nuts, in € million

Source: Eurostat and ITC Trade Map, 2025

The volume of European cashew nut imports has increased at an average annual rate of 5% since 2020, reaching 268,000 tonnes in 2024. Almost all imports from outside Europe are from developing countries. In 2024, European imports of cashew nuts increased by 23,000 tonnes compared to 2023. In the next 5 years, the European market for cashew nuts will likely grow at an annual rate of 4-5%. Imports from developing countries dominate, accounting for around 80% of total European imports. 

Overall, most cashew nut imports came from Vietnam and India. Although African countries are the largest producers of raw in-shell cashew nuts, they do not have enough processing capacity to directly supply Europe. Instead, they export their raw in-shell cashew nuts to India and Vietnam for further processing. Doing this makes products imported into Europe less traceable, and more European importers are seeking to source cashew nuts directly from the countries of origin. Imports to Europe from Côte d’Ivoire have increased by a lot, from 13,000 tonnes in 2020 to 72,000 tonnes in 2024.

African countries have started investing in processing facilities and are gaining market share. Emerging cashew kernel suppliers to Europe are:

• Côte d’Ivoire
• Nigeria
• Tanzania
• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Ghana
• Mozambique
• Togo
• Guinea-Bissau

The sustainable production of cashew nuts is gaining importance in Europe. Several large traders have joined the Sustainable Nut Initiative to promote traceability and sustainability in the cashew nut supply chain. Also, several international organisations and projects are supporting the processing and export of cashew nuts from Africa. These include African Cashew Alliance (ACA), ComCashew and CBI projects in Côte d’Ivoire and Benin.

Canned and preserved fruit and vegetables

Europe is the world’s largest importer of canned and preserved fruit and vegetables, accounting for 45% of the world’s imports. Within this category, the leading imported products are tomato purée and paste, followed by canned vegetables and pickled cucumbers.

Germany, the UK, France and the Netherlands are strong consuming and importing countries. They offer the best opportunities for suppliers from developing countries. Natural, low-sugar and organic products are the main market drivers. Canned and preserved fruit and vegetables offer unique opportunities for selling a retail-ready product in this segment. This is rare due to the specific production process involving sterilisation. Most products in this product category are further processed after import. 

Table 10: European imports of canned and preserved fruit and vegetables, in million €

Source: Eurostat and ITC Trade Map, 2025

Within this group, canned pineapples is the largest product category imported from developing countries. Between 2020 and 2024, imports of canned pineapples decreased at an annual rate of 7% in volume and 2% in value. This decline was due to a poor harvest in Thailand, which is the biggest supplier of canned pineapple worldwide. Although Thailand remains the world’s largest supplier of canned pineapple, production has been much more limited as a result of drought and heat stress. Indonesia is the leading supplier to Europe, followed by Philippines, Thailand and Kenya.

Table 11: European import of canned pineapple, in million €

Source: Eurostat and ITC Trade Map, 2025

Countries that supply other tropical products in this category include:

• China (canned lychees, water chestnuts, sweet preserved ginger, bamboos shoots, asparagus);
• Türkiye (canned paprika and chillies, pickled cucumber);
• India  (canned mangoes, canned mango purée, canned carry pastes);
• Peru (canned artichokes).

Canning processing lines require high investments. Small and medium suppliers can therefore find more opportunities by offering these products in bulk packaging, such as barrels, drums or bags in aseptic filling. The European market for canned tropical fruit is retail-oriented and dominated by a relatively small number of suppliers. The product range is also quite limited, with canned pineapples accounting for more than 90% of the whole product category. 

Private label products and ethnic supermarkets are the best options for new suppliers. Examples of well-established ethnic Asian supermarket chains selling canned tropical fruit in Europe are Tang Frères (France), Wah Nam Hong (the Netherlands), Wing Yip (the United Kingdom), Go Asia (Germany) and Hoo Hing (UK).

Coconut products

Europe is the world’s largest importer of desiccated coconut. Desiccated coconut is a popular bakery and confectionery ingredient in Europe. In 2024, European imports of desiccated coconut reached 121,000 tonnes, with a value of €245 million. In 2024, direct imports from coconut-producing countries (all developing countries) amounted to 92,000 tonnes. The leading suppliers to Europe are the Philippines and Indonesia, followed by Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Ghana and India.

Table 12: European imports of desiccated coconut, in million €

Source: Eurostat and ITC Trade Map, 2025

Other coconut products are also becoming increasingly popular in Europe due to their health benefits and the growth of veganism. The most popular products in this segment are dried coconut chips, coconut milk and water and coconut oil. There are no official statistics on coconut water and coconut milk. The European coconut water market is estimated to be over 700 million litres, while the coconut milk market is estimated to be over 100,000 tonnes. In 2024, European coconut oil imports amounted to 1,009 tonnes, 66% of which was crude coconut oil.

Table 13: European imports of coconut oil, in million €

Source: Eurostat and ITC Trade Map, 2025

Other products

Other products that have contributed to growth in Europe’s processed fruit, vegetables and edible nuts imports include:

• Hazelnuts;
• Pistachios;
• Tomato purée and paste;
• Kola nuts;
• Orange juice;
• Dried mushrooms;
• Citrus fruit jams and purées;
• Apple juice;
• Berry juices;
• Dried apricots. 

It is especially worth mentioning the growing popularity of pistachio paste. This is due to the popularity of pistachio ice cream and confectionery products like ‘Dubai chocolate’. Despite not being among the top 6 most promising products, the products listed in Table 14 are still worth exploring.

Table 14: Other promising products for export to Europe, by import value

Source: Eurostat and ITC Trade Map, 2025

Two products for which demand is increasing but that do not have official statistical codes in the European import nomenclature are banana pulp and avocado pulp. The European market for avocado pulp is estimated to be around 20,000 tonnes in 2024, with Mexico as the leading supplier. The European market for banana pulp is estimated to be around 50,000 tonnes in 2024 with Costa Rica, Guatemala and Ecuador as leading suppliers. A number of African countries, including Kenya and Uganda, are also starting to export both products to Europe. 

Products with high demand in Europe but that are challenging for emerging suppliers

There are a number of products for which the European market is growing but that could be challenging for new exporters to supply due to strong competition. Certain products are more challenging for new exporters to supply to Europe. This is due to a high market concentration and domination by large suppliers. These are:

• Almonds: Mostly from the USA;
• Frozen vegetables: Mostly produced in Europe and imported from China;
• Retail packed jams: Mostly produced in Europe;
• Orange juices: Mostly from Brazil;
• Apple juices: Mostly produced in Poland and imported from China;
• Hazelnuts, dried grapes and dried apricots: Mostly from Türkiye;
• Pistachios: Mostly from the USA and Iran;
• Pine nuts: Mostly from China,

Frozen vegetables, fruit juice mixtures, canned vegetables and canned tomato products are mainly produced and traded within Europe, with limited opportunities for non-European suppliers.

Products promoted as ‘superfoods’ are a very interesting category. It includes products offered as food and as ingredients for the food supplement markets. There is a growing market in Europe for products with strong health benefits. Some examples are:

• Frozen berries: blackberries, raspberries, Blueberries, currants;
• Spray-dried and freeze-dried powders: Acai berries, maca, acerola, ashwagandha, soursop, baobab;
• Juices and purées: Berries, aloe vera, turmeric, pomegranate, noni, acerola, acai berry, ginger;
• Dried fruit: Goji berries, aronia, cranberries;
• Dried mushrooms: Ganoderma, reishi, chaga.

Autentika Global carried out this study on behalf of CBI.

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