Spices and Herbs

4 THE EUROPEAN UNION MARKET
4.1 The European Union market summary
4.1.1 Consumption
Since 1 January 1995 the EU consists of 15 member states and in 1997 the size of the EU
market totalled 373 million consumers with an average GDP per capita of ECU 18,100 in
1996. In 1997 the total world production of spices and herbs was 4.5 million tonnes, of
which 95 per cent was produced in developing countries and of which the greater part is
consumed in the domestic markets of these producing countries.
All the developed countries (EU, North America, Far East, Eastern Europe and Northern
Africa) jointly imported a total of 774,365 tonnes of spices and herbs in 1997. This is an
increase of 62 per cent compared to 478,168 tonnes in 1992. After the USA, the EU is the
second largest world market for spices and herbs. In 1997 the total EU import volume of
260,831 tonnes represented 28 per cent of the total imports of spices and herbs by
developed countries.
In 1997 the EU apparent consumption (imports minus exports) was estimated to be 158,660
tonnes with a value of ECU 324 million. Gross imports fluctuate quite considerably around
this figure due to the differing stock levels held by major trading companies at any one time
and to the (re-) export trade between member countries of the EU.
Table 4.1 Apparent consumption of spices and herbs in Europe, 1993-1997
1993 1995 1997
Volume in tonnes
Imports 187,923 219,962 260,831
Exports 70,670 90,483 102,171
Apparent consumption 117,253 129,479 188,660
Value in ECU million
Imports 332.8 450.0 650.9
Exports 200.3 244.4 326.9
Apparent consumption 132.5 205.6 324.0
Source: Eurostat
By far the most important spices for EU consumers in quantity terms are pepper and
paprika powder. Most spices are imported and few spices are produced in the EU, so
import figures give only an indication of overall demand.
Pepper and paprika powder are both fairly well established and are widely used
throughout the EU. In 1997 pepper and capsicum (including paprika powder) accounted
for 50 per cent of total spice import volume. In that year, 70,517 tonnes of pepper and
60,208 tonnes of capsicum were imported by EU countries, with total import values of
ECU 251 million and 131 million respectively.
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