Sour cherries market in North Macedonia

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, the fresh sour cherries market in North Macedonia showed notable fluctuations. The sector benefited from the country's long fruit-growing tradition and government financial support for agricultural investments, supporting a market volume of 9,566 t in 2018. A decline to 8,546 t in 2019 coincided with amendments to the Law on Foreigners, which likely affected the availability of seasonal foreign labor for harvesting. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the market recovered in 2020, growing to 9,690 t, aided by positive momentum in certain segments.

After a drop to 7,846 t in 2021, while financial support measures for agricultural competitiveness continued, the market expanded to 8,500 t in 2022. This rebound was partly driven by the expansion of the electricity market and shifts in energy policy, which lowered production and transportation costs for the agrarian sector. In 2023, the market contracted sharply to 6,006 t, largely due to the impact of the war in Ukraine and associated sanctions, which disrupted export channels and increased production costs.

In 2024, the market context evolved with changing consumer preferences favoring discount chains and new retail players, alongside rising raw material and transport costs. The government also launched an export promotion strategy for 2024–2027, aiming to enhance the competitiveness of Macedonian products abroad, which could influence future production and trade flows.

Production sour cherries in North Macedonia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, North Macedonia ranked 15th globally in sour cherry production volume.

Top producers of sour cherries, 2017-2020

World map of production of sour cherries, 2017-2020

The data shows irregular changes, pointing to a volatile market environment. Production varied 2.4-fold between the minimum in 2017 and the maximum in 2018. In 2020, North Macedonia produced 9 892 tonnes of sour cherries, marking a 13.8% increase from the previous year. The highest production was recorded in 2018 at 10 538 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with a 17.5% drop, while the largest increase was in 2018 with a 139.1% rise.

Annual dynamics of production in North Macedonia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports sour cherries from North Macedonia

Exports in kind, t

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Export volumes varied 5.6 times between the low in 2019 and the high in 2018. In 2020, North Macedonia's cross-border shipments of sour cherries totaled 230.3 tonnes, representing a 32.7% increase from the prior year. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 173.6 tonnes, while the maximum was in 2018 at 971.7 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with an 82.1% drop, and the largest increase was in 2018 with a 297.7% rise.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, the three largest markets—Germany, Serbia, and Bulgaria—were central to North Macedonia's sour cherry exports in kind, collectively accounting for 66.7% of total flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Volatility characterized the market behavior during these years. The highest export value was recorded in 2018, with the lowest in 2020, reflecting a 4.3-fold gap. In 2020, North Macedonia's sour cherry exports stood at 104.2 thousand US dollars, representing a 47.1% fall compared to 2019. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 447.2 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with a 56.0% drop, while the largest increase was in 2018 with a 155.7% rise.

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

Over 2017–2020, Serbia (23.2% of exports in value terms), Germany (17.8%), and Italy (16.9%) made the biggest contribution to North Macedonia's sour cherry exports in value terms, jointly accounting for 57.9% of total flows.

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

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

Imports sour cherries to North Macedonia

Imports in kind, t

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Import levels fluctuated 8.7 times between the low in 2019 and the high in 2017. In 2020, the volume of sour cherry imports into North Macedonia amounted to 28.7 tonnes, representing a robust 17.2% rise compared to the previous year.

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

In 2017–2020, Serbia was the key supplier of sour cherries to North Macedonia, taking 74.0% of total imports in kind, while a diversified group of other countries accounted for the remainder.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during the period. Import values dropped to a minimum in 2019 and climbed to their maximum in 2017, a 14.1-fold shift. In 2020, sour cherry imports into North Macedonia totaled 12.5 thousand US dollars, which is 2.7% higher than the previous year.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, Serbia remained the main source for imports in value terms, taking 78.9% of total flows, with the remaining share distributed across various smaller markets.

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

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