The European market potential for exotic tropical fruit

European consumers have a growing interest in new flavours and fruit varieties. This leads to a higher market value for exotic fruit with most imports in northern Europe. Communicating the health benefits of exotic fruit can help increase the demand. Pomegranates, passion fruit, physalis and lychees may be leading the demand, but other exotics such as pitahaya, rambutan and carambola are definitely part of the growth potential.
This product study covers a number of fresh exotic fruits that are traded under the Harmonized System (HS) codes 08109020 and 08109075 (see table 1 below). See the Classification and Latin names for edible fruit and nuts in the EU Trade Helpdesk.

Some of these exotic fruits are relatively known in Europe and marketed in higher volumes, such as pomegranates, passion fruit and to a certain extend lychees and physalis. Other fruits such as cactus figs, medlars and cherimoya have a strong regional consumption. These are most common in the Mediterranean region due to their local production. Less common exotics that often have to be imported include pitahaya, rambutan and jackfruit.

See also the specific CBI product studies on promising export products for some of the mainstream exotics such as pomegranates and lychees, niche exotics like rambutan and tropical fruits that are not included in this study such as fresh mangoes, papayas, coconut or persimmons.