Leguminous vegetables market in Europe

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the European market for fresh or chilled leguminous vegetables expanded from 2.2 million tons to 2.7 million tons. This growth was partly driven by increasing consumer demand for healthy foods, including legumes, amid rising health awareness. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 disrupted trade flows, slowing intra-EU exports of fresh vegetables, but the overall market volume continued to rise.

Growth continued in 2021, peaking at 3.0 million tons, followed by a sharp decline to 2.6 million tons in 2022. No specific factors explaining this contraction were highlighted in the available sources.

By 2023, the market stabilized at 2.6 million tons. During this period, investments in logistics and cold chains improved the availability of fresh produce, while growing interest in plant-based proteins supported consumer demand. By 2024, the European Union introduced new marketing standards and labeling requirements for vegetables, including legumes, enhancing transparency for consumers.

Production leguminous vegetables in Europe

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of leguminous vegetables, 2017-2020

World map of production of leguminous vegetables, 2017-2020

Europe's production of leguminous vegetables has increased for the second year in a row. In 2020, Europe produced 2,546 thousand tonnes of leguminous vegetables, marking a moderate 3.8% rise compared to 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, overall production declined by 3.9%, with an average annual decrease of 1.3%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 2,381 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 10.1% during this timeframe.

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

Exports leguminous vegetables from Europe

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, Europe exported 253.1 thousand tonnes of leguminous vegetables, representing a 3.4% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports fell significantly by 47%, with an average annual decline of 19.1%. The lowest export volume was in 2019 at 244.9 thousand tonnes, while the peak was in 2018 at 641.1 thousand tonnes. The largest drop occurred in 2019 with a 61.8% decrease, whereas the biggest gain was in 2018 with a 34.3% rise.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the geographical distribution of Europe's leguminous vegetable exports in volume terms was highly diverse. India accounted for 8.6% of exports, Turkey for 5.5%, and Egypt for 4.7%, together making up just 18.7% of total flows. The remaining 81.3% was spread across numerous smaller trading partners.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Europe's leguminous vegetable exports in value terms reached 496 million US dollars in 2020, showing a 6.7% uptick compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 8.8%, equivalent to an average annual increase of 2.9%. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 3.0%.

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

Over the 2017-2020 period, Europe's leguminous vegetable exports in value terms were distributed across a wide range of partner countries. Norway contributed 2.2% of export value, India 2.0%, and Switzerland 1.9%, together accounting for only 6.1% of total flows.

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

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

Imports leguminous vegetables to Europe

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, Europe imported 432.8 thousand tonnes of leguminous vegetables, a 14.9% increase from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports rose by 12.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 4.1%. The lowest import volume was in 2019 at 376.8 thousand tonnes, while the highest was in 2018 at 444.2 thousand tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with a 15.2% drop, and the largest increase was in 2018 with a 15.7% rise.

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

The country composition of Europe's leguminous vegetable imports in volume terms from 2017 to 2020 was dispersed. Morocco accounted for 20.9% of imports, Kenya for 5.3%, and Egypt for 3.0%, together forming just 29.2% of total flows. The remaining 70.8% was split among a wide range of other destinations.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Europe's leguminous vegetable imports in value terms amounted to 1,056 million US dollars, indicating a moderate 3.9% advance from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports increased by 3.3%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.1%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 1,017 million US dollars, while the peak was in 2018 at 1,110 million US dollars. The largest decline was in 2019 with an 8.4% drop, and the largest increase was in 2018 with an 8.6% rise.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Europe's leguminous vegetable imports in value terms were characterised by a broad spread across markets. Morocco accounted for 29.0% of import value, Kenya for 13.1%, and Guatemala for 5.3%, together making up only 47.4% of total flows.

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

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