Cucumbers and gherkins market in Southern Europe

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2023, the Southern European market for fresh cucumbers and gherkins grew from 418 thousand tonnes to a peak of 535 thousand tonnes in 2022, before contracting to 443 thousand tonnes in 2023. The initial growth phase occurred without major reported disruptive events, but from 2021 onward, weather patterns and international trade dynamics began to visibly shape market volumes.

In 2021, unfavorable weather conditions in Spain, a key producer, reduced supply by up to 20% at times, contributing to historically high prices and a 4.6% decline in the total market volume that year. The following year, the market rebounded strongly with a 12.6% expansion. This growth coincided with continued international competition from exporters like Mexico and Israel, which helped fill supply gaps and influenced regional availability despite ongoing price pressures from the previous season's shortages.

A sharp market contraction of 17.2% followed in 2023. This downturn aligned with broader production challenges, including energy disruptions and high input costs in supplying regions like South Africa, which constrained global volumes. Concurrently, reported reductions in cultivation areas in France and persistently low prices in Italy due to import competition reflected a tighter and more competitive supply environment, contributing to the lower overall market volume.

Production cucumbers and gherkins in Southern Europe

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of cucumbers and gherkins, 2017-2020

World map of production of cucumbers and gherkins, 2017-2020

Southern Europe's cucumber and gherkin production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 1 271 thousand tonnes, marking a 5.2% increase from 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 14.3%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 4.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Southern Europe in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the value of cucumber and gherkin production in Southern Europe reached 1 316 million US dollars, up 15.5% compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, production value increased by 18%, with an annualized growth rate of 5.7%. The most significant drop occurred in 2019, when it fell by 4.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Southern Europe in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports cucumbers and gherkins from Southern Europe

Exports in kind, K t

Southern Europe's cucumber and gherkin exports have expanded for the third consecutive year. In 2020, export volume reached 803.9 thousand tonnes, showing minimal change from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports grew by 11.2%, averaging a 3.6% annual increase.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Europe in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, three key markets—Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands—collectively represented 58.9% of Southern Europe's total cucumber and gherkin exports by volume.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Southern Europe in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Southern Europe exported 832.6 million US dollars worth of cucumbers and gherkins, a 10.3% year-on-year increase. Between 2017 and 2020, export value rose by 14.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 4.7%. The largest decline was in 2019, when it dropped by 4.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Europe in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

During 2017-2020, Germany (37.9% of export value), the United Kingdom (12.1%), and the Netherlands (10.0%) consistently served as the primary destinations for Southern Europe's cucumber and gherkin exports, together accounting for 60.0% of total value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Southern Europe in value, 2017-2020

Imports cucumbers and gherkins to Southern Europe

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, Southern Europe's cucumber and gherkin import volume totaled 30.5 thousand tonnes, a sharp 30.7% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 30.5%, with an average annual decline of 11.4%. The peak volume was recorded in 2019 at 44.1 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 14.8% that year.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Europe in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the volume-based import structure was highly diverse: Morocco (9.6% of imports), Germany (8.1%), and Austria (2.6%) together made up only 20.3% of total flows, with the remaining 79.7% spread across numerous smaller trading partners.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Southern Europe in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

After two years of growth, Southern Europe's cucumber and gherkin imports declined in 2020. The region imported 57.8 million US dollars worth of these products, a gradual 7.8% drop from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value increased by 2.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.9%. The highest value was in 2019 at 57.8 million US dollars, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 5.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Europe in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, no single market dominated Southern Europe's cucumber and gherkin imports by value. Germany (10.3% of import value), Morocco (8.3%), and Austria (3.4%) together accounted for just 22.0% of total imports, with many smaller partners each holding modest shares.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Southern Europe in value, 2017-2020