Sour cherries market in Austria

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for sour cherries in Austria declined substantially from 4 597 tons in 2018 to 2 477 tons in 2023, a drop of 46% in physical terms. In value, the market fell from 3 million US dollars to 1.4 million US dollars over the same period, reflecting both lower volumes and changing price levels.

The contraction was most pronounced in 2022, when the market shrank by 32% to 2 432 tons, after already having decreased in previous years. A slight recovery to 2 477 tons in 2023 indicated a stabilization of demand. Imports, which supply the majority of the market, followed a similar downward trend, falling from 4 619 tons in 2018 to 2 508 tons in 2023.

By 2024, extreme weather events were reported to have affected fruit harvests in Austria, including sour cherries, potentially tightening domestic supply. At the same time, consumer preferences continued to shift toward fresh, natural products with clean ingredient lists, alongside a growing emphasis on regional and organic origin, which may reshape demand patterns.

Production sour cherries in Austria

In kind, 2017-2020, t

On a global scale, Austria ranked as the 30th largest producer of sour cherries between 2017 and 2020.

Top producers of sour cherries, 2017-2020

World map of production of sour cherries, 2017-2020

The market exhibited significant volatility during this period. Production reached its lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2018, with an 1.8-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Austria produced 770 tonnes of sour cherries, representing a 1.3% increase compared to the previous year. The highest production volume was recorded in 2018 at 1 050 tonnes. The most substantial decline occurred in 2019, dropping by 27.6%, while the largest increase was observed in 2018, rising by 82.0%.

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

Exports sour cherries from Austria

Exports in kind, t

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Export volumes reached their lowest point in 2020 and peaked in 2019, with a 3.4-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Austria exported 599 tonnes of sour cherries, marking a sharp year-on-year decline of 70.4%. The highest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 2 025 tonnes. The largest increase occurred in 2019, rising by 88.8%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Germany remained the leading buyer of sour cherries from Austria, accounting for 72.4% of total exports in volume, while the remainder was distributed among numerous other countries.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Export values reached their lowest point in 2020 and peaked in 2017, with a 3.6-fold variation between these years. In 2020, Austria exported sour cherries worth 323 thousand US dollars, representing a dramatic 71.3% drop compared to 2019. The largest increase was recorded in 2019, rising by 75.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Germany and Poland remained the primary markets for Austrian sour cherry exports in value terms, jointly accounting for 89.0% of total flows, with other partners making up the remaining share.

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

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

Imports sour cherries to Austria

Imports in kind, t

After a two-year uptick, Austria's sour cherry import volume declined. In 2020, imports totaled 3 806 tonnes, which is 20.3% lower than the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 27.5%, corresponding to a compound annual growth rate of 8.4%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 4 774 tonnes. The largest increase occurred in 2018, rising by 54.8%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Serbia remained the leading supplier of sour cherries to Austria, accounting for 70.3% of total imports in volume, while the rest was spread across many other countries.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Austria's sour cherry imports from abroad declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Austria imported approximately 1 950 thousand US dollars worth of sour cherries, representing a 32.0% decrease compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 29.8%, equating to an annualized rate of 11.1%. The highest import value was recorded in 2018 at 3 010 thousand US dollars. The largest increase occurred in 2018, rising by 8.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Serbia (61.5% of imports in value terms), Hungary (9.4%), and Croatia (6.8%) consistently remained the main sources for Austrian sour cherry imports, together accounting for 77.7% of total flows.

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

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