Macfrut gives Italian market information

Italian fresh produce trade show Macfrut has released information about the consumption of fruit and vegetables in Italy. The trade balance has improved, but families' consumption has dropped as well as farmers' incomes. Compared to 2004 there has been a drop in gross saleable production (-4.2 percent, from 11,750 million Euro in 2004 to 11,250 in 2005) and a slight decrease in total turnover (-2.2 percent, dropping to 22 billion euros), a decline of -3.8 percent in production volumes which makes for a total of 24,590,000 tons consisting of 5.1 million tons of fruit (-1.9 percent), 16.2 (-1.2 percent) of vegetables and 3.1 million tons (-4.9 percent less than 2004) of citrus fruit. These are the ups and downs of 2005 for the Italian fruit and vegetable sector, which for the second year in a row is in a state of structural crisis. The sector, according to Domenico Scarpellini, President of Cesena Fairs, speaking in Milan about Macfrut, which will take place in the city of Romagna from May 4th to 6th, is striving to deal with the new dimension of international competition. "The lack of growth in consumption and a tendency toward increasing supplies due to the effects of globalization lay bare the lack of control over supply as well as scarce cooperation between the various segments of the supply chain." "Some small signs of recovery and encouragement are coming from exports, thanks to a growth phase in some European countries," emphasized Gino Peviani, President of ANEIOA (National Association of Fruit, Vegetable and Citrus Exporters and Importers), showing data on export-import transactions. The balance of payments (which has been positive for Italy for years) increased by +61.4 percent, going from 420.5 million euros in 2004 (the lowest level in the last 15 years - in 1992 it was 520 million) to 678.7 in 2005. In 2005 Italy exported a total of 3.5 million tons of fruits and vegetables compared to 3.2 million in 2004 (+9.1 percent) for 2.9 billion euros (+15.3 percent up from 2.5 in 2004). Fresh fruit (the most important "item") registered over two million tons (2,312,524 tons, +17.1 percent up on the 1,975,020 tons of 2004) with an increase in revenues of +20.4 percent (from 1,450 to 1,746 million euros). Italy imported 2,757,357 tons of fruits and vegetables (-3.7 percent compared to 2004's 2,862,476, for a value of +6.2 percent (2,273 million euros compared to 2,140 in 2004). According to data from the 'Osservatorio dei consumi ortofrutticoli delle famiglie italiane (Observer of Italian families' fruit and vegetable consumption) (the market research tool that IHA has used for quite some time for Cesena Fairs) in 2005 nuclear families bought -3.7 percent less fresh fruit and vegetables by quantity (from 8.2 million tons in 2004 to 7.9 million tons) with a drop in spending of nearly twice that, or -6.6 percent based on 11.1 billion euros in 2005, down from 11.9 in 2004. The volume of fresh fruit purchased by nuclear families has dropped less (-3.4 percent compared to -4.1 percent) but this represents a greater drop in value (-8.3 percent compared to -5.1 percent). Purchases of frozen vegetables by Italian families continue to grow; in 2005 they bought 214,000 tons (+2.9 percent compared to 2004) for a total of 672 million euros (+1.4 percent compared to 2004). This compares to 192,924 tons purchased in 2002. What is needed now is a sharp upturn in consumption and on this front Macfrut, the largest international trade fair for the fruit and vegetable sector, is trying to make a real contribution. For example, it is stimulating supply chains to find innovative new ways to encourage fruit consumption (this will be the topic of a special conference), in addition to promoting the healthy aspects of fruits and vegetables with an "external" promotion of a maxi fruit salad. The 2006 edition of MACFRUT, organized by Cesena Fairs, will take place from Thursday May 4th to Saturday May 6th (Pievesestina pavilion - Hours: 9am - 7pm) with about 700 exhibitors on over 30,000 square meters, and for the first time it will not continue on Sunday morning.