The import of vegetables in our country is increasing, our export is decreasing – Agro Plovdiv – 2024-02-23 15:46:33

The import of leguminous vegetables increased by 76% in a year, of raspberries and strawberries – three times

According to preliminary data of NSI, in the period January – November 2023, 265.6 thousand tons of fresh vegetables were imported into the country, which is nearly 4% more compared to a year earlier. The export of vegetables has decreased by 2.4% and has shrunk to 33,876 tons. The numbers show that imports are almost 8 times larger in quantity than exports.

For the period January – November 2023, 353.4 thousand tons of fresh fruit were imported into the country, which is
1.6% less compared to the same period in 2022.

The export of fruit decreased most significantly – by 13.3%. During January-November 2023, exports were measured at 61,105 tons, while for the same period a year earlier it was 70,496 tons.

Vegetables

Import

The increase in the total import of fresh vegetables is mainly due to the larger supplies of tomatoes (by 7 thousand tons or 8.6%) and peppers (by 3.8 thousand tons or 14.5%). The quantities of cucumbers (by 1.2%), potatoes (by 2.9%), eggplants (by 8.5%) and leguminous vegetables (by 75.9%, mainly peas) entered the country are also increasing.

Among the more significant products, the volume of imported cabbage (by 22.4%), lettuce (by 12.9%), mushrooms (by 11.5%), carrots and turnips (by 3.5%) and onions ( with 2.1%).

Amount

The export of fresh vegetables in the period January – November 2023 is in the amount of
33.9 thousand tons, which represents a decrease of 2.4% compared to a year earlier.

Compared to the same period of 2022, there was a serious decrease in the export of cucumbers – by 2.4 thousand tons (25%) and potatoes – by 1.2 thousand tons (39.1%). The amounts of cabbage, pumpkins, leguminous vegetables and eggplants sent abroad decreased from 5.1% (cabbage) to 63.3% (eggplants) on an annual basis.

More are exported carrots and turnips (by 2.1%), mushrooms (by 12.4%), tomatoes (by 14.4%), onion vegetables (by 22.2%) and peppers (by 28.8%) .

Fruits

Import

In terms of fresh fruit, the import of citrus fruits and bananas remains the leader – a total of 165.5 thousand tons (46.8% of all fresh fruit imports for the period), with 0.4% more on an annual basis. A significant share (13.9%) was also occupied by the supply of apples, which fell by 8.2 thousand tons or 14.3% (to 49.2 thousand tons). Imported quantities of strawberries, peaches, apricots, watermelons, sour cherries and plums are from 0.5% (strawberries) to 50.7% (plums) below those reported for the eleven months of 2022, while there is an increase in grapes (by 2, 9%), blueberries (by 6.1%), nuts (by 14.6%), pears (by 18.1%), melons (by 27%), quinces (by 86.5%), raspberries and the cherries (about three times each).

Amount

The reported export of fresh fruit in the eleven months of 2023 includes to a large extent products that were not produced in Bulgaria, including mainly citrus fruits – 34.3 thousand tons, with 7.7% below the level of one year ago year. The exported amount of watermelons is nearly 9 thousand tons (38.9%) less on an annual basis. The sale of strawberries, cherries, plums, melons and apricots is also shrinking – within the limits of 1% (strawberries) to 85.8% (apricots).

At the same time, the export of pears, kiwis, quinces, cherries and grapes increased several times
that of peaches, apples and nuts – respectively with 3.3%, 4.3% and 17%.