ATHENS: Fruit and vegetables (fresh and processed) exported by Greece in 2016 generated three times more revenue than oils and fats, four times more than dairy and seafood and many more times that of other agricultural products, according to an analysis carried out by the Association of Greek Fruit, Vegetable and Juice Exporting Companies, INCOFRUIT-HELLAS.
According to data from ELSTAT processed by the Association, Greece received a total of 1.9 billion Euro from the sale abroad of all fruits and vegetables (fresh and processed) in 2016, while the export of oils and fats (including olive oil) generated 681.3 million Euro, seafood (fish and fish preparations) 653.5 million Euro and dairy and eggs 592.85 million Euro,” as stated by INCOFRUIT-HELLAS special adviser, Georgios Polichronakis.
He pointed out that, as regards the export of agricultural products, there has been an overwhelming superiority of fruits and vegetables and their preparations, whose export value accounts for 32% of the total generated by all agricultural exports. The trade surplus in fruits and vegetables in 2016, amounting to 1.2 billion Euro, fully offsets the trade deficit of “meat and preparations” (EUR 1.024 billion), and the deficit of “dairy products and birds eggs” (EUR 154.78 million).
Also worth noting is that the revenue generated by fruit and vegetables remains stable over time, without major fluctuations, and with a rising growth over the last 10 years, contributing decisively to the continuous improvement in the trade deficit of Greek agricultural products.
The trade deficit of Greek agricultural products declined by 19.2% due to the 7% increase of exports and the 4.5% fall of imports in 2016 compared to 2015.
As for the fresh fruit and vegetable sector, exports in 2016 increased by 22.8% in volume compared with 2015 and the value increased by 11.1%, according to the latest data
