From January to October 2018, Bulgaria exported 46,000 tons of fresh vegetables and 43,400 tons of fresh fruit. This is 41.8% and 39.9% more, respectively, than in 2017, according to the latest operational analysis of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, reports Fresh Plaza.

The biggest contribution to the growth of vegetable exports was made by potatoes (3.3 thousand tons; up 15 times), legumes (3 thousand tons; +23.8%) and tomatoes (2.9 thousand tons; +61.6%).

Growth was also recorded in the exports of mushrooms, cucumbers, peppers and sweet corn. The reverse trend was observed for aubergines (-25.6%) and cabbage (-47.3%).

The growth of fresh fruit exports over the 10-month period is mainly due to the re-export of citrus fruits (14,000 tons; up by over 200%). As for the fruits grown domestically, the most noteworthy exports were those of watermelons (5.5 thousand tonnes; up by over 200 %), cherries (+27.1%) and apples.

Drops were reported in the export of grapes, apricots, nuts, peaches, strawberries and sour cherries.

With regard to imports, there were no significant changes compared to the first ten months of 2018, according to preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute, which show that fresh vegetable imports increased by 11.7%, to 226.7 thousand tons, while fresh fruit imports grew by 9.4%, to 255.3 thousand tons.

Of the vegetables Bulgaria imported, the most notable increases were recorded by tomatoes (8.9 thousand tons; +13.7%), peppers (7.4 thousand tons; +36.4%) and cucumbers (6.2 thousand tons; +43.7%). Greater imports were also recorded for carrots and turnips (+18%), cabbage (+8.8%), onions (+9.2%) and pumpkins (+26.8%).

Meanwhile, potato imports were reduced by 6 thousand tons, or 16.1% compared to the previous year, while those of mushrooms, eggplants and garlic shrank by between 6.6% and 18.1%.

About half of the fresh fruit imports in the first ten months of 2018 correspond to citrus fruits and bananas (33.6%, or 128 thousand tons).