Currently, the European market for fonio is in its early stages of development and still niche. Therefore, marketing fonio as a specialty grain offers the most opportunities for this product. In this market, it will compete with other nutritious, gluten-free grains, such as quinoa, amaranth and teff. There could be an interesting future for fonio in Europe with the right marketing efforts and reliable supply.

Europe is an important market for dry beans. People often eat them in Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Portugal. Imports are expected to increase because consumers are shifting to plant-based proteins and government initiatives promote plant-based foods. As red and white kidney beans are produced regionally and in small amounts, Europe keeps relying on imports. The canning industry and producers of bean-based ready meals will drive imports further. 

Chia seeds are a ‘Novel Food’ in Europe and were fairly unknown until 2014. European consumers and food developers have embraced chia. Demand is expected to reach approximately 30,000 tonnes by 2025. Although supply and demand do not always line up, experienced and emerging suppliers aim for positive market growth in the future. 

Tuna is the most consumed fish species in Europe, but the by-catch species of tuna fisheries, such as swordfish, Patagonian toothfish, mahi mahi and butterfish, have a strong market presence and growing popularity in certain niches and countries. There is less data available on these by-catch species than on tuna, so they have more specific market requirements, routes to market and product forms than other fish. Still, due to their unique qualities, these species are hard to substitute.

With a competitive price, Pacific white shrimp has gained market share in the European market over the last years. For Pacific white shrimp, it is important to realise that there are 2 markets within Europe: North and South. While the South predominantly imports raw head-on shell-on products and headless shell-on products, the northern market is more oriented towards peeled and cooked products. In Southern Europe, the key importers are Spain and France. For the North, these are the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

Black tiger shrimp is considered a premium product for niche markets. The food service, organic and ethnic retail markets prise this shrimp for its large size and desirable colour, taste and texture. Due to the high availability of Pacific white shrimp, however, it is a challenge to remain price-competitive on sizes in both species. By meeting the necessary requirements in these niche markets, you can get your product to reach the markets demanding it.

Demand for dried chillies in Europe is driven by the popularity of international cuisine and interest in mild chilli flavours. Large markets such as Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Poland offer opportunities for new suppliers from developing countries. Competitive advantage for emerging dried chillies suppliers can be gained by offering high-quality, authentic, safe and sustainable products.

Curcuma longa (turmeric) is a key ingredient of curry powders that is widely used in South Asian and Middle Eastern-style dishes across Europe. Curcuma longa is also used as a natural colourant in the food industry for a wide variety of products. In addition to these uses, the product has become a trendy ingredient in healthy diets, opening up promising opportunities for market growth in the short, medium, and long term. 

Europe is an interesting market for exporters of dried ginger. Demand is stable and offers opportunities for new suppliers. Suppliers looking to enter the European market must have a safe product that is compliant with European regulations. Quality certification is a big plus. Ginger supply to Europe is unstable, especially since the main supplier, Nigeria, suffers from low production. China is replacing it and is quickly becoming the main supplier, especially for the industrial segment.

Tuna loins prepared for the canning industry are individual tuna fillets gutted and cleaned — organs, skin, bones and black meat are removed — then cooked and frozen at -18ºC by blast or contact freezing. Most pre-cooked frozen tuna loins come from skipjack and yellowfin tuna. Europe has domestic tuna fisheries, but the European canning industry still sources a large percentage of its input from outside the EU, giving exporters potential opportunities to enter this large and interesting market.