Market evolution: Edible fruit and nuts (CN 08) — 2015–2025
Introduction
Over the 2015–2025 period, the European Union’s trade in edible fruit and nuts experienced a profound structural transformation. While extra‑EU imports grew strongly in both value and volume, exports became ever more concentrated on high‑value, lower‑tonnage segments. The result is a rapidly widening trade deficit, a shift in sourcing and destination markets, and a growing external dependency for many fruit and nut products.
A Widening Trade Deficit Driven by Surging Import Volume and Value
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EU imports of edible fruit and nuts grew by 67.1% in value, from €16.5 billion in 2015 to €27.6 billion in 2025, while the quantity imported rose by 38.7% to 15.5 million tonnes, driving up the average import price by 20.5% (from €1,483 to €1,786 per tonne). Total EU trade flows
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Extra‑EU exports, by contrast, recorded only a 20.3% increase in value, reaching €7.1 billion in 2025, despite a 30.6% drop in shipped tonnage (from 5.5 million tonnes to 3.8 million tonnes). Consequently, the average export unit price surged by 73.3%, from €1,059 to €1,836 per tonne. Total EU trade flows
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The trade deficit nearly doubled, deepening by 92.8% from €10.7 billion to €20.6 billion. Net import reliance climbed sharply from 28.2% in 2015 to 65.4% in 2024, while trade intensity reached 77.9%, underscoring the EU’s growing dependence on foreign suppliers for this category. Net import reliance | Trade intensity
| Indicator | 2015 | 2025 | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra‑EU imports (€ bn) | 16.5 | 27.6 | +67.1 |
| Import quantity (mn t) | 11.2 | 15.5 | +38.7 |
| Import unit price (€/t) | 1,483 | 1,786 | +20.5 |
| Extra‑EU exports (€ bn) | 5.9 | 7.1 | +20.3 |
| Export quantity (mn t) | 5.5 | 3.8 | –30.6 |
| Export unit price (€/t) | 1,059 | 1,836 | +73.3 |
| Trade balance (€ bn) | –10.7 | –20.6 | –92.8 |
| Net import reliance (%) | 28.2 | 65.4¹ | — |
| Trade intensity (%) | 54.9 | 77.9¹ | — |
¹ Value for 2024.
The Shifting Geography of EU Fruit and Nut Trade: From Traditional Partners to Latin American Dominance
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EU imports from Peru, South Africa, and Colombia expanded explosively (by 318.4%, 111.0%, and 84.0%, respectively), while shipments from the historically largest supplier, Türkiye, grew by only 4.3%. Top import partners
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Import concentration (HHI) fell by 10.6%, reflecting a wider sourcing base, yet a handful of Latin American and African countries—notably Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, and South Africa—now account for a large share of EU imports. Import concentration (HHI)
| Import partner | 2015 (€ mn) | 2025 (€ mn) | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peru | 604 | 2,528 | +318.4 |
| South Africa | 1,097 | 2,314 | +111.0 |
| Colombia | 742 | 1,365 | +84.0 |
| Türkiye | 1,878 | 1,959 | +4.3 |
| Ecuador | 778 | 1,348 | +73.4 |
| Brazil | 528 | 878 | +66.3 |
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On the export side, the United Kingdom remained the top destination with broadly stable spending (–1.8%), while Switzerland (+67.5%), Norway (+41.4%), and Ukraine (+181.1%) gained importance. Exports to Belarus collapsed by 57.6%, reflecting sanctions and political disruption. Top export partners
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Export destination diversification also increased (HHI down 21.5%), though the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Norway together still absorb a substantial portion of EU fruit and nut exports. Export concentration (HHI)
| Export partner | 2015 (€ mn) | 2025 (€ mn) | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 2,357 | 2,314 | –1.8 |
| Switzerland | 677 | 1,134 | +67.5 |
| Norway | 384 | 543 | +41.4 |
| Ukraine | 80 | 225 | +181.1 |
| Belarus | 368 | 156 | –57.6 |
| Brazil | 117 | 195 | +66.3 |
From Bulk to Premium: Export Specialisation and Segment Transformation
- The EU’s export basket shifted markedly toward high‑value segments: fresh berries and other edible fruits (CN 0810) saw unit prices jump 67%, lifting their value by 59% to €1.76 billion, while traditional apples and pears (CN 0808) suffered a 45% volume drop, pushing unit prices up 80% to maintain roughly stable value. Product segment comparison
| Export segment (CN) | 2015 value (€ mn) | 2025 value (€ mn) | Price change (%) | Volume change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apples, pears (0808) | 1,368 | 1,361 | +80 | –45 |
| Berries, other (0810) | 1,105 | 1,761 | +67 | –4 |
| Citrus (0805) | 843 | 886 | +54 | –32 |
| Stone fruit (0809) | 490 | 498 | +141 | –58 |
| Tropical fruit (0804) | 283 | 608 | +19 | +81 |
| Grapes (0806) | 408 | 482 | +37 | –14 |
| Melons, papayas (0807) | 161 | 284 | +40 | +25 |
- On the import side, edible nuts (CN 0802) remained the largest value category, reaching €6.0 billion in 2025, but the most dynamic growth came from avocados, mangoes and other tropical fruit (CN 0804), which surged 150% in value to €4.6 billion, and from frozen fruit and nuts (CN 0811), up 121% to €1.8 billion, reflecting changing European consumption patterns. Product segment comparison
| Import segment (CN) | 2015 value (€ mn) | 2025 value (€ mn) | Price change (%) | Volume change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuts (0802) | 4,869 | 5,982 | –19 | +52 |
| Bananas (0803) | 2,726 | 3,753 | +8 | +27 |
| Tropical fruit (0804) | 1,849 | 4,631 | +46 | +72 |
| Citrus (0805) | 1,445 | 2,406 | +27 | +31 |
| Grapes (0806) | 1,337 | 2,097 | +20 | +31 |
| Frozen fruit/nuts (0811) | 795 | 1,760 | +20 | +84 |
| Melons, papayas (0807) | 426 | 818 | +29 | +49 |
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Specialisation in edible fruit and nuts within the EU remains strongly concentrated in the southern Member States: Greece (RSCA 0.69), Spain (0.66), Portugal (0.35), the Netherlands (0.31) and Italy (0.12) show a high revealed comparative advantage, while most northern and eastern countries are marginal producers. Specialisation map
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Among EU member states, Poland (+90.4%) and Greece (+73.9%) significantly expanded their export roles, while the Netherlands reinforced its dual position as the EU’s leading import hub (+103.0% in imports) and the second‑largest extra‑EU exporter (+51.6%). Top importing reporters | Top exporting reporters
| Member State | Export growth 2015–2025 (%) | Import growth 2015–2025 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Poland | +90.4 | +229.4 |
| Greece | +73.9 | — |
| Netherlands | +51.6 | +103.0 |
| Spain | +16.8 | +113.3 |
| Italy | +17.7 | +55.8 |
| Germany | +1.4 | +31.8 |
Conclusion
The EU’s trade in edible fruit and nuts over 2015–2025 is characterised by a sharply widening deficit, an accelerated diversification of import sources—especially towards Latin America—and a deliberate move up the value chain in exports. While southern EU countries have cemented their role as the bloc’s fruit and nut specialists, overall external dependency has risen dramatically, leaving the sector increasingly exposed to global supply conditions and price volatility.