Locust beans market in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for locust beans in Eastern Europe fluctuated significantly between 2018 and 2023. After starting at 3 171 tons in 2018, it dropped to 1 718 tons in 2020, a reduction of nearly half, before partially recovering to 2 130 tons in 2021.

Domestic production remained relatively stable throughout the period, averaging around 200 tons per year. Consequently, the market's volatility was primarily driven by changes in import volumes, which fell sharply from over 3 000 tons in 2018 to under 1 500 tons in 2020 and 2022.

By 2023, the market size was still 46% lower than its 2018 level, indicating a sustained shift in supply dynamics or demand conditions for locust beans in the region.

Production locust beans in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of locust beans, 2017-2020

World map of production of locust beans, 2017-2020

Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) saw its locust beans production decline for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 192.4 t of locust beans, marking a slight year-over-year decrease of 0.8%. Production peaked in 2018 at 199.7 t, which represented a 2.1% increase from the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 2.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports locust beans from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Exports in kind, t

Locust beans exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) fell for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the region exported 21 t of locust beans, reflecting a controlled decline of 9.5% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 77%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -38.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the main buyers of locust beans from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) were Serbia (23.7% of exports in kind), Spain (21.8% of exports in kind), and Germany (7.2% of exports in kind). Together, these three countries accounted for 52.7% of total exports in kind.

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

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Cross-border shipments of locust beans from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, exports totaled 45 K $ US, down 7.2% year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 32.7%, equating to an annualized rate of -12.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During 2017-2020, Serbia (13.6% of exports in value terms), the United Kingdom (9.7% of exports in value terms), and Spain (5.2% of exports in value terms) played notable roles as buyers of locust beans from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia). However, their combined share reached only 28.4% of total exports in value terms, indicating they were not dominant in the market.

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

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020

Imports locust beans to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Imports in kind, t

Locust beans imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, import volume was recorded at 1 547 t, equivalent to a sharp drop of 41.8% year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 43.5%, with an annualized rate of -17.3%. The highest import volume was in 2018 at 3 014 t, which saw a 10.2% increase from the previous year.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, t

Over the 2017-2020 period, Spain was the dominant destination for locust beans imports in kind to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia), accounting for 77.7% of total flows. The remaining share was distributed among a number of smaller markets.

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

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

After rising for two years, locust beans deliveries to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) declined. In 2020, the region imported locust beans worth 1 493 K $ US, showing a robust drop of 20.1% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 16.7%, equating to an annualized rate of -5.9%. The peak value was recorded in 2019 at 1 493 K $ US, which represented a 4.0% increase from the year before.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Spain and Algeria together captured 80.5% of total imports in value terms for locust beans into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia). The rest of the flows were spread thinly across other markets.

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

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020