Fruit and vegetable exports hit 800,000 ton mark

The study, 'Fruit and Vegetable Sector Analysis 2013' reveals that Sri Lanka exports around 800,000 metric tons of fruits and vegetable per annum while the varieties have grown from about 12 to around 135 today.

Nearly 90 percent of Sri Lanka's fruit and vegetable exports are to the Middle Eastern and the Maldivian markets, while 75 percent of the processed items are exported to the European Union, a new study by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce revealed.

Sri Lanka's fresh fruit and vegetable exports earned an income of US$ 8.95 million, an increase of 21.8 percent during the first half of 2013.

Apart from the Middle Eastern, European region and the Maldives, the US absorbs around 4.5 million kilograms of Sri Lanka fruits and vegetables per annum.

The study includes details such as the fruit industry in Sri Lanka, global fruit production, global export and import markets of fruits, top 10 fruits globally exported and imported and target, extent and production of fruits for 2014.

It also has details about the vegetable sector, target, extent and production of vegetable cultivation, global fruit and vegetable production, Sri Lanka's exports and imports of vegetables.