Fresh fruit and vegetable exports in the first quarter of 2024 were positive, with their value increasing by 5.8% compared to the same period in 2023, according to data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), which was processed by the Association of Greek Fruit and Vegetable Exporting Companies, INCOFRUIT-HELLAS.

The average selling price per unit weight is also up 24.5%, according to the same data. However, Greek exports fell 15% in volume, reaching 458,557 metric tons compared to 539,671 metric tons in the first quarter of 2023.

Between January and March 2024, vegetable shipments increased by 3.5% in volume compared to the same months of 2023, while the value showed a marginal increase (0.3%), reaching 93.83 million euros.

In fruit, the volume of exports decreased by 18.7% but showed an increase of 7.2%, reaching 365,185 metric tons and 422.1 million euros, due to the 31.9% increase in the average price.

As the official ELSTAT data show, in January 2024 there was a decrease in exports compared to the corresponding month of 2023 by -18.2%. However, the average export prices improved by 30.69% compared to the same period last year.

The market was sluggish in February as exports fell 11.5% in volume while the average price increased 23.6% compared to the same month in 2024.

Finally, in March, due to the closure of the Red Sea passage, exports decreased by 15.1% in volume, while unit prices increased by 20.4% in terms of average unit price.

In a statement to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, the association's special advisor, George Polychronakis, said, among other things, that the high cost of production and trade of fruit and vegetables "has improved slightly but remains very high, not contributing to the competitiveness of our products" and added, "Despite the widening of the overall trade deficit in the first quarter of 2024, the balance of our agricultural products still shows a surplus of 205.804 million euros. 205.804 million."