Frozen vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes and maize market in Southern Europe

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2021, the frozen vegetable market in Southern Europe experienced fluctuations, initially stabilizing in 2019 as the sector benefited from growing consumer demand for healthy and convenient products. However, adverse weather conditions, including drought, impacted vegetable production for freezing in 2020 and 2021, reducing supply and contributing to a contraction in market volume. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 boosted demand for frozen foods due to their long shelf life, but this did not fully offset the supply-side constraints.

A sharp turnaround occurred from 2022 onward, with the market expanding by 53% to 471 million USD in 2022 and by another 29% to 607.5 million USD in 2023. This surge was primarily driven by high inflation, which made frozen vegetables a more economical and price-stable choice for consumers, significantly boosting demand. Concurrently, production of specific vegetables such as flat green beans, eggplant, and zucchini increased substantially, supporting market supply. The introduction of new specialized and innovative products, including potato varieties and prepared dishes, further broadened the offering.

In 2024, improved weather conditions due to rainfall facilitated a recovery in vegetable production, creating a favorable environment for sector growth. The maintained reduced VAT rate of 4% for frozen vegetables and legumes, in effect since 2019, continued to encourage consumption. Major industry players sustained investments in production capacity and technology, responding to the persistent consumer trend toward healthy, convenient, and affordable frozen vegetable options.

Production frozen vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes and maize in Southern Europe

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of frozen vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes and maize, 2017-2020

World map of production of frozen vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes and maize, 2017-2020

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period. Production reached its lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a threefold difference between these years. In 2020, Southern Europe produced 582.0 thousand tons of frozen vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes, and maize, representing a 1.3% decline from the previous year. The highest production volume was recorded in 2019 at 589.5 thousand tons, while the largest year-over-year increase occurred in 2018 with a 200.4% surge.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Market behavior showed volatility across these years. From the low in 2017 to the high in 2018, production values varied 3.1 times. In 2020, the output of frozen vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes, and maize in Southern Europe was valued at 703.2 million US dollars, reflecting a 7.0% decrease compared to the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 774.9 million US dollars, which also saw the largest year-over-year increase of 209.9%.

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

Exports frozen vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes and maize from Southern Europe

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, Southern Europe's export volume of frozen vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes, and maize stood at 640.5 thousand tons, marking a controlled 8.0% year-over-year increase. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports grew by 15.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.0%. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 0.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, France (24.2% of exports in kind), Belgium (15.4%), and Germany (11.4%) together absorbed 51.0% of total exports in kind of frozen vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes, and maize from Southern Europe, establishing them as the primary destinations.

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, frozen vegetable shipments excluding potatoes, legumes, and maize from Southern Europe to abroad reached 773.8 million US dollars, corresponding to a 1.8% increase over the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports rose by 9.6%, equating to an annualized rate of 3.1%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 785.3 million US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 11.2%. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 3.2%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, exports in value terms of frozen vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes, and maize from Southern Europe were not heavily concentrated on a few key markets. France (22.7% of exports in value terms), Belgium (12.7%), and Germany (12.0%) jointly accounted for only 47.3% of total flows.

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 frozen vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes and maize to Southern Europe

Imports in kind, K t

After a two-year increase, frozen vegetable volumes excluding potatoes, legumes, and maize in Southern Europe declined. In 2020, Southern Europe imported 279.3 thousand tons of these products, reflecting a 7.7% year-over-year contraction. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 3%, equating to an annualized rate of 1.0%. The maximum volume was recorded in 2019 at 302.6 thousand tons, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 3.1%.

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

The analysis of imports in kind from 2017 to 2020 shows a broad distribution across many markets. Belgium (29.7% of imports in kind), France (9.1%), and China (7.6%) together accounted for only 46.5% of total flows, with a significant 53.5% falling on other 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

Southern Europe's import volume of frozen vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes, and maize declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 389.4 million US dollars, marking a slight decrease of 2.5% compared to the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 415.1 million US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 8.0%. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 3.8%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, imports in value terms of frozen vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes, and maize to Southern Europe were not concentrated on a few key markets. Belgium (21.2% of imports in value terms), China (12.5%), and France (8.4%) jointly accounted for only 42.1% of total flows.

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

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