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Home > SAUDI ARABIA > Showroom
ITALIAN KIWIS KEEP GROWING
Rome - (Ign) -The Italian kiwi is conquering the world, with production, consumption and exports in constant growth. Despite increases in supply, the great success of the product does not seem to be affected by falling prices. According to data from the Fruit and Vegetable Service Centre (www.csoservizi.com), Italy is the world's largest producer and exporter of this fruit. The average Italian supply figures are around 380-390 thousand tons per year, followed by New Zealand (280-290 thousand) and China (150 thousand). International exports are in the hands of very few countries. Out of a total of around 735,000 tonnes exported every year between 2001 and 2003, Italy with around 260,000 tonnes, accounts for 35% of the market; New Zealand, with just under 240,000 tonnes, 32%; followed by Chile, which exports around 120,000 tonnes annually, representing 16% of the total.
The farming of kiwis started in the early 1980s and grew exponentially until reaching a production peak of around 370,000 tonnes in 1992. After a period of relative stability, 1999 saw renewed interest in kiwi growing, leading to a surge in production which continues to this day, with the threshold of 400,000 tonnes passed in 2004. Today, around 23,000 hectares is farmed with kiwis , and almost 90% of this is concentrated in four regions: Lazio (32%), Piedmont (23%), Emilia Romagna (18%) and Veneto (14%). The main variety grown remains the Hayward (characterised by slow initial productivity, hardiness, flowering in late May, green flesh, fruit weighing 90-100 g, good storability, and ripening in early November), although in recent years other types have been introduced, such as Summerkiwi, Hort 16 A and Jintao, all three characterised by their yellow flesh. In 2005 the tradable production was around 369,300 tonnes, perfectly in line with the average of the last five years and with a +4% increase in land in full production.
But it is the export trend which is recording the best figures. From the 1990s to the present-day Italy has significantly increased exports of kiwis, which in recent years has seen 250,000 tonnes on average per campaign, at a stable level of over 70% of tradable production. With every production increase, shipments abroad grow at the same rate, without any particular problems of placement. The importing countries have risen from around 40 a decade ago to over 80 today. On average, almost 90% of exports are directed to Europe, where we find the main export markets: Germany, which absorbs 25% of the total, Spain, where 14% of Italian exports are directed, followed by France, the United Kingdom, Poland and the Netherlands.
Consumption is also growing on the domestic market. By 2005 the retail purchases of kiwis in Italy had risen from the 76,000 tonnes of 2000 to almost 122,000, with growth of 60% over these five years and a rise of +26% on 2004. This is a particularly positive trend, especially if we consider that this increased consumption is taking place in a period in which retail purchases of fruit and vegetables by Italian families have fallen overall. The most important Italian producer of kiwis is Apofruit Italia (www.apofruit.it): the largest Italian fruit and vegetable cooperative (4,300 members accounting for 2.2 million quintals of production and a consolidated turnover of 200 million, 50% abroad) is also the greatest exporter of this fruit: every year it accounts for 35000 tonnes, representing 9.5% of national production (and the entire French production). 75% is destined for export, including the markets of North America and the Arab Emirates.
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