The Czech Republic’s vegetable trade deficit hit a record 13.8 billion crowns last year, almost one billion more than in 2023. From January to July this year, imports have already exceeded exports by 9.5 billion crowns.

Over one million tons of vegetables were imported in 2024, a six percent year-on-year rise, while exports grew to 179,000 tons. The main suppliers were Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Morocco.

Despite increased domestic greenhouse production over the past decade, the trade gap keeps widening. Experts attribute this trend to high labor and energy costs, expensive inputs, and adverse weather, including floods that damaged crops last September. Domestic production fell seven percent last year to 211,000 tons.

Source: CzechDaily

Prepared by the team of foreign offices CzechTrade Osaka and Tokyo