The main outlet for the Italian produce is once again Germany, which absorbs 40% of the total. It is followed by Poland with 15% and France with 9%. The Czech Republic continues its downward trend with 6% while Austria went from 3 to 5%.
The main destination is the European market (92% of the total), though in previous years it used to absorb 94-95% of the total. 8% of the total volumes was absorbed by Extra-EU28 European countries, and by Switzerland in particular. Other quantities were sent to Tunisia. The Italian fruit is shipped abroad mainly between June and August.
In 2015, watermelon imports reached 47,000 tons, the largest quantity of the past few years (except for 2010), with a 29% increase with respect to the previous year.
The value reached €20 million (+24% than 2014) with average prices 3% lower than the previous year.
Incoming quantities come mainly from the EU (92% - up from the last six campaigns) and most of the fruit arrives in June.
60% of the incoming volume comes from Greece, which continues to be the first supplier. Spain follows with 18% of the total, while produce from France went down from 9 to 6%. Fruit from the Netherlands grew by 1% reaching 4%. Limited quantities come from other European countries.
Outside of Europe, Italy imported 7% of the total quantities from Africa and mainly from Tunisia. 1% of the total comes from America, and from Panama in particular.
Cultivated areas (open fields and greenhouses) in 2015 were little more than 2014 (+1%). In general, we could say that they remained constant in the past three years at 11,500 hectares except only in 2010/2011, when they reached over 12,200 hectares.
