Serbia has solidified its position as a major cherry exporter in Europe, achieving substantial earnings of almost €59 million from cherry exports last year. According to the latest data from the Republic Institute of Statistics (RZS), Serbia exported 42,600 tons of cherries valued at €58.8 million in 2023, underscoring its pivotal role in the European cherry market.
The majority of Serbia’s cherry exports were directed to EU countries, followed by neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina and Russia. Fresh cherries were primarily shipped to markets in Austria, Italy, Hungary, Germany, and Croatia, while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Russia led among non-EU importers of Serbian cherries.
RZS reports indicate that Serbia earned €7.66 million from the export of 3,321 tons of fresh cherries. However, the export of frozen cherries yielded significantly higher revenues, amounting to €45.15 million from 32,543 tons.
On the import side, Serbia imported 2,017 tons of cherries valued at €2.93 million, sourced mainly from Germany, North Macedonia, Romania, and the Russian Federation.
In the first quarter of this year, Serbia maintained robust export performance with 11,504 tons of cherries worth €17.8 million exported, while imports were minimal at 273 tons valued at €402,000. Notably, Russia emerged as a key market for frozen cherries, importing 4,742 tons, followed by Germany (2,330 tons) and France (1,167 tons).
Fresh cherry exports in 2024 totaled 40 tons, exclusively destined for the German market. Annually, Serbia produces about 90,000 tons of cherries from approximately 17,000 hectares, with the Toplica region contributing significantly as the largest producer in the country.
Globally, leading sour cherry producers include Turkey, USA, Iran and Poland, highlighting the competitive landscape of cherry production worldwide.
