Strawberries market in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Earlier Report Observations

The fresh strawberry market in Russia was in an early development stage in 2018, with growing consumer demand stimulating the expansion of berry plantations. Market volume remained stable around 679 thousand tons in 2018 and 669 thousand tons in 2019. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted logistics and supply chains, which contributed to a decrease in physical volume to 647 thousand tons, while market value rose to $1.9 billion due to sustained demand.

From 2021, the market rebounded strongly, with volume growing to 696 thousand tons and value surging to $2.5 billion. This increase was driven by the expansion of cultivation areas in regions like Krasnodar Krai and Stavropol, alongside rising consumer demand for fresh berries. In 2022, geopolitical sanctions affected supply structures and prices, yet market volume continued to grow to 740 thousand tons, supported by the development of strawberry processing for frozen products, jams, and beverages.

Growth persisted in 2023, with market volume reaching 753 thousand tons and value $2.7 billion, fueled by increased sales to the food service industry and processing sector. The number of seasonal strawberry sales points in Moscow expanded from 150 to 250, improving product accessibility. However, spring frosts in May 2024 caused retail prices to spike by 20%, though competition among retail chains later led to a 10% price reduction from the season's start.

Production strawberries in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of strawberries, 2017-2020

World map of production of strawberries, 2017-2020

Strawberry production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) has declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 558.3 thousand tons of strawberries, representing a 3.6% decrease compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production actually increased by 7.7%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 2.5%. The peak production was recorded in 2018 at 593.5 thousand tons, with the largest year-on-year increase of 14.5% also occurring that year.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the value of strawberry output in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) reached 1,699 million US dollars, showing a gradual increase of 6.6% compared to 2019. Over the four-year period from 2017 to 2020, production value grew by 17.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.5%. The largest decline was observed in 2019 at 3.0%, while the most significant increase occurred in 2018 with a 13.6% rise.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports strawberries from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Exports in kind, t

After two consecutive years of decline, strawberry export volumes from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) rebounded in 2020. The region exported 9,369 tons of strawberries that year, marking a substantial 20.1% increase compared to 2019. However, looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, exports actually decreased by 5.9%, which equates to an average annual decline of 2.0%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 7,803 tons, with the largest year-on-year drop of 13.0% also occurring that year.

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

The structure of strawberry exports in physical terms from 2017 to 2020 reveals a highly diversified set of trading partners. Germany accounted for 3.6% of exports, the Netherlands for 3.4%, and Lithuania for 1.8%. Together, these three countries represented just 8.8% of total export flows, while the remaining 91.2% was distributed among numerous smaller markets.

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, M $ US

Following two years of decline, the value of strawberry exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) increased in 2020. Export earnings reached 28.5 million US dollars that year, representing a significant 32.7% rise compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, export value increased by 2.6%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 0.8%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 21.5 million US dollars, with the largest year-on-year decline of 13.6% also occurring that year.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the value of strawberry exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) was widely distributed across partner countries. Germany accounted for 9.8% of export value, the Netherlands for 4.7%, and Norway for 3.6%. Together, these three countries represented only 18.2% of total export flows, indicating a highly diversified export 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 strawberries to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Imports in kind, t

Strawberry import volumes into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) increased for the third consecutive year in 2020. Imports stood at 97,625 tons, showing no significant change compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, import volumes grew by 5.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.7%.

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

During the period from 2017 to 2020, strawberry imports in physical terms to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) were relatively evenly distributed among suppliers. Spain accounted for 18.8% of imports, Turkey for 17.9%, and Greece for 10.0%. Together, these three countries represented 46.7% of total import flows, with the remainder spread across various other 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, M $ US

Strawberry import values into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) increased for the third consecutive year in 2020. The region imported strawberries worth 208.4 million US dollars, corresponding to a slight rise of 2.7% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, import values increased by 6.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the value of strawberry imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) was relatively evenly distributed among source countries. Spain accounted for 21.0% of import value, Turkey for 14.4%, and Serbia for 9.6%. Together, these three countries represented 45.1% of total import flows, with the remainder coming from various other suppliers.

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