Export competitiveness of the European Union in fruit and vegetable products in the global markets

Abstract

The research provides evidence on the fruit and vegetable products export competitiveness of the European Union (EU-27) member states in the global markets. The revealed comparative advantage index is used to analyse the levels and compositions in the export competitiveness by differentiated fruit and vegetable products. Most of the EU-27 member states experienced revealed comparative disadvantages in the fruit and vegetable products in the global markets. Spain and the Netherlands experienced the most robust results of the revealed comparative advantages between 2000 and 2011 and among fruit and vegetable groups of products. Most other of the EU-27 member states with the comparative export advantages in fruit and vegetable products specialized in a certain segment or niche fruit and vegetable products.