In order to increase the sales of Dutch greenhouse vegetables, it is important to find new markets. For example, since June Dutch sweet peppers have been allowed into China. There are a few emerging countries available for tomatoes, according to a study done by GroentenFruit Huis. In addition to finding new markets, it is, of course, important to keep increasing exports to France and Germany.
In the first six months of this year, as many tomatoes were exported as in the whole of last year. According to Quality Control Bureau, this amounted to 351 million kg. There is a positive growth within the smaller markets. These emerging markets include Portugal, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Japan. There has, for the second year in a row, been a robust growth in these markets. In the first half of 2015, very few Dutch tomatoes were sent to Portugal. In the same period in 2016, this increased to 1,2 million kg. Slovenia is also showing more interest n Dutch tomatoes. They imported 1 million kg this year, compared to 0.5 million kg last year.
England buying more tomatoes
Exports to the two largest markets, Germany (+1%) and England (+7%), can be increased. German customers are showing ever-increasing interest in snack tomatoes. Salad tomatoes have always made up more than half the tomatoes exported to England. The volume of these increased in the first half of 2017. The sale of vine tomatoes to England was also higher than the year before. The export to Sweden, Denmark and Finland dropped slightly. Norwegians, however, are becoming more keen on Dutch tomatoes.
Sweet peppers sales a little lower
Sweet pepper exports were, come June, a few percent lower than last year. Sales to, especially, Germany and the US were lower. Dutch trading companies exported a total of 142 million kg in the first half of this year. Poland (+4%) is becoming an important market for Dutch sweet peppers. It has become the third largest market for this product, after Germany and England. Exports to countries like England, Italy, Romania and Moldova are developing well. In contrast, exports to Japan dropped significantly in the first half of 2017. There is even talk of the amount being halved; to 500 tonnes.
Poland crazy for cucumbers
Dutch cucumbers were mainly sold to the country's neighbours to the East. Only 62% of cucumbers were exported to Germany in the first half of this year. This is a slight drop. Poland is noteworthy when it comes to cucumbers. They bought 9 million kg this year, as compared to 5 million kg last year. French customers also bought more Dutch cucumbers.
Aubergine exports to Germany also increased with a few percent to almost 9 million kg. England follows and Sweden makes up the top three importers of this vegetable.
