Fruit and vegetable juices market in Uruguay

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2021, the Uruguayan fruit and vegetable juice market expanded significantly, with volume rising from 8.6 million liters to 17.1 million liters. This growth was initially fueled by the entry of new brands like Danone's Citric and the launch of reformulated products such as Del Valle's sugar-free juices, which capitalized on a strong consumer shift toward healthier options. The market dynamics were further shaped by the implementation of front-of-pack warning labels in 2020, which steered demand toward juices with lower sugar content. In 2021, a revision of the labeling decree eased the thresholds for excess sugars, allowing a wider range of products to avoid the black octagons and likely contributing to the market's sharp 47% surge that year.

After peaking in 2021, the market contracted over the next two years, falling to 13.0 million liters by 2023. The decline coincided with a 34% jump in beverage exports through October 2022, which diverted production away from domestic consumption. Regulatory refinements continued, with updated bromatological rules excluding naturally occurring fruit sugars from total sugar calculations, potentially affecting product formulation and supply. While local citrus output increased, providing more raw material, the combined effect of higher exports and post-pandemic adjustments led to a reduction in available market volume.

Production fruit and vegetable juices in Uruguay

In kind, 2017-2020, K l

Top producers of fruit and vegetable juices, 2017-2020

World map of production of fruit and vegetable juices, 2017-2020

Fruit and vegetable juice production in Uruguay has increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Uruguay produced 11,896 thousand liters of fruit and vegetable juices, marking a significant 15.0% gain compared to the previous year. Production reached its lowest point in 2018 at 8,704 thousand liters, which saw the largest decline of 6.3%. The following year, 2019, recorded the largest increase at 18.8%. Overall, between 2017 and 2020, production grew by 28.1%, translating to an annualized rate of 8.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Uruguay in kind, 2017-2020, K l

Exports fruit and vegetable juices from Uruguay

Exports in kind, K l

After a two-year decline, fruit and vegetable juice exports from Uruguay have rebounded. In 2020, Uruguay exported 2,533 thousand liters of fruit and vegetable juices, a 30.1% increase from the previous year. Exports hit their lowest level in 2019 at 1,947 thousand liters, which also saw the largest decline of 37.0%. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 31.1%, averaging an annualized decline of 11.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uruguay in kind, 2017-2020, K l

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands, the United States, and Spain were the primary markets for Uruguay's fruit and vegetable juice exports in volume terms. The Netherlands accounted for 41.4% of exports, followed by the United States at 12.7%, and Spain at 11.9%. Together, these three countries represented 66.0% of total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Following a two-year fall, Uruguay's fruit and vegetable juice export value has increased. In 2020, exports amounted to 4,252 thousand US dollars, a substantial 69.8% rise compared to the prior year. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 2,504 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 64.2%. Between 2017 and 2020, export value decreased by 47%, with an annualized rate of decline of 19.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uruguay in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States were the main buyers of Uruguay's fruit and vegetable juices in value terms. The Netherlands led with 37.0% of exports, followed by Spain at 16.3%, and the United States at 15.2%. Collectively, these three markets accounted for 68.5% of total export value.

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

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

Imports fruit and vegetable juices to Uruguay

Imports in kind, K l

Imported fruit and vegetable juice volumes in Uruguay have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, Uruguay imported a total of value_last_year thousand liters of fruit and vegetable juices, showing a modest 8.6% decrease from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports fell by 26.6%, equating to an annualized decline of 9.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uruguay in kind, 2017-2020, K l

During the 2017–2020 period, Argentina and Brazil were the dominant sources for Uruguay's fruit and vegetable juice imports in volume terms, jointly accounting for 82.1% of total flows. The remaining volume was distributed among smaller markets.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Cross-border shipments of fruit and vegetable juices to Uruguay have declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled value_last_year thousand US dollars, down by 20.7% year-over-year. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 6,094 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 8.0%. Overall, between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 30.8%, with an annualized decline of 11.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uruguay in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout 2017–2020, Argentina and Brazil remained the principal sources for Uruguay's fruit and vegetable juice imports in value terms, jointly taking 85.5% of total flows. Other partners each held significantly smaller shares.

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

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