Losing ground in Europe

These are not the best of times for U.S. fresh fruit exports to Europe. From this USDA FAS report, published Dec. 19.

European Union imports of fresh fruit approached 8 billion EUR in 2006, a 25 percent increase from 2001. Despite the overall increase, the U.S. fresh fruit industry experienced a 15 percent decrease from 2002 to 2006. The main suppliers of fresh fruit to the EU-27 market are South Africa (grapes, oranges, apples), Costa Rica (bananas and pineapples), and Ecuador (bananas). In 2006, the United States was the 15th largest supplier of fresh fruit to the EU- 27.

Nuts have done better, however....

Imports of tree nuts4 into the EU-27 grew 63 percent between 2001 and 2006. The United States has been successful in increasing imports in this category; market share increased by 6 percent while actual value of imports from the United States more than doubled in the six year period. The United States maintains a leading share in almond exports and is also the main exporter of pistachios. Turkey is the main supplier of hazelnuts while India provides the majority of the cashews. Note that peanuts are not included in this market. EU-27 imports of fruit and vegetable juices increased by 21 percent in the six year period. The United States and Brazil both lost market share in the six year period and had a decrease in the value of their products imported. Switzerland, a center for juice processing, captured a greater share of the market in 2006 than 2001.4 Tree nuts include coconuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, chestnuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, pecans, pignolia, and nuts or seeds not otherwise specified.