Pumpkins, squash and gourds market in Finland

Earlier Report Observations

The market for fresh or chilled pumpkins, squash and gourds in Finland showed considerable volatility between 2018 and 2023. After reaching a peak volume of 8 079 t in 2019, total market size contracted to around 6 987 t in 2020. Domestic production, however, began a sustained upward trend from 2021 onward, rising from 2 200 t to 3 040 t by 2023. This growth in output was supported by an expansion in the area dedicated to growing these vegetables.

Imports, which constitute the majority of supply, surged to 5 780 t in 2019 but then entered a multi-year decline, falling to 3 933 t by 2023. The decrease in import volumes was accompanied by a fall in import prices of approximately 5.8% in 2021, which likely helped maintain consumer demand and mitigated a sharper contraction in the overall market size during that period.

By 2022 and 2023, the market stabilized at volumes just below 7 000 t, with domestic production continuing to grow and offsetting part of the reduction in imported quantities. The Finnish market remained dependent on imports, but the rising domestic harvest contributed to a more balanced supply structure.

Production pumpkins, squash and gourds in Finland

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of pumpkins, squash and gourds, 2017-2020

World map of production of pumpkins, squash and gourds, 2017-2020

Finland's production of pumpkins, squash, and gourds declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 2 200 tonnes, marking a modest decrease of 4.3% compared to 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, overall production grew by 30.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 9.3%. The peak was in 2018, when output reached 2 350 tonnes, representing the largest annual increase of 39.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Finland in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports pumpkins, squash and gourds from Finland

Exports in kind, t

Export volumes showed significant fluctuations during this period. In 2019, exports hit their lowest point at just 1 tonne, but they surged to 31 tonnes in 2020, a dramatic increase of 3 024.3% year-over-year. This resulted in a 31-fold difference between the two years. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 84.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Finland's exports of pumpkins, squash, and gourds were heavily reliant on Estonia, which accounted for 97.6% of the total export volume.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values experienced notable volatility. In 2018, they reached their minimum at 16 thousand US dollars, but jumped to 72 thousand US dollars in 2019, the highest point during the period. By 2020, exports fell to 52 thousand US dollars, a sharp decline of 28.2% from the previous year. The difference between the high in 2019 and the low in 2018 was 4.4-fold. The largest decrease was in 2018 at 36.6%, while the biggest increase was in 2019, soaring by 340.4%.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, Estonia was the nearly exclusive buyer of Finland's pumpkins, squash, and gourds in value terms, holding a 98.3% share of total exports.

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

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

Imports pumpkins, squash and gourds to Finland

Imports in kind, t

After rising for two years, Finland's import volumes of pumpkins, squash, and gourds dropped in 2020. That year, imports totaled 4 818 tonnes, a robust decrease of 16.6% compared to 2019. Over the full period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 12.2%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.9%. The maximum volume was recorded in 2019 at 5 780 tonnes, which also saw the largest annual increase of 30.1%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Spain dominated Finland's imports by volume, making up 73.5% of the total, while the remainder was distributed among various smaller sources.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Following a two-year decline, the value of Finland's pumpkin, squash, and gourd imports rebounded in 2020. Import value reached 8 074 thousand US dollars, showing a robust increase of 23.2% from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 11.7%, with an average annual rate of 3.8%. The lowest value was in 2019 at 6 553 thousand US dollars, and the largest decline occurred in 2018, falling by 7.4%.

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

In the 2017–2020 period, Spain accounted for 71.8% of Finland's total import value for pumpkins, squash, and gourds, with the rest spread across a wide range of smaller trading partners.

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

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