Fruit Exports See 22.1% Decline in Quantity and 30.9% in Value
According to the National Observatory of Agriculture, fruit exports from January 1, 2024, to July 3, 2024, have experienced a significant decline of 22.1% in terms of quantity and 30.9% in terms of value.
The exported quantities reached 12,748 tons for the 2023/2024 season, compared to 16,359 tons during the same period of the previous season. The value of exports is estimated at 45.5 million dinars for 2024, compared to 65.9 million dinars in 2023.
Despite this decline, summer fruit production has increased by 10% in 2023/2024 compared to the previous season, with initial estimates of 245,000 tons for 2024, compared to 223,000 tons for 2023. This increase in production is attributed to an improvement in product quality, particularly in terms of size, thanks to the thinning of fruits carried out by producers.
Main Markets
The Libyan market remains the primary importer, accounting for 72.3% of total exports. In 2024, Libya imported 9,217 tons of fruits, compared to 9,878 tons the previous year, recording a slight decline of 6.7% in quantity and a decline of 18% in value. Peaches are among the most imported fruits by Libya, with 3,727 tons, representing 40.4% of the total quantity imported.
The Italian market ranks second, with approximately 2,180 tons exported in 2024 for a value of 4.2 million dinars, compared to 4,641 tons in 2023 for a value of 9.2 million dinars. This represents a decline of 53% in quantity and 54.5% in value. Watermelon is the most exported fruit to Italy, with 1,930 tons, accounting for 89% of the total quantity imported.
