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Top Figs Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices

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Sliced figs on display
Figs
In 2021, worldwide exports of figs from all countries were worth a total US$772.8 million.

Overall sales of exported figs increased by an average 31.5% since 2017 when globally exported figs sales were $587.8 million.

Year over year, the dollar value of exported figs accelerated by 14.8% compared to $673 million in 2020.

Figs are edible fruits from small flowering trees with white bark. While figs are eaten fresh or dried, they are also processed into jams, biscuits, rolls and other types of desserts.

Key Geographic Facts for Figs Exports & Imports

The 5 biggest exporters of figs are Turkey, Afghanistan, Iran, Austria, and Germany. Combined, that leading subgroup generated more than three-quarters (77.5%) of all international figs sold during 2021.

Applying a continental lens, countries in Asia sold the highest dollar worth of exported figs during 2021 with shipments valued at $566.2 million or 73.3% of the global total. In second place were European exporters (21.7%). Smaller international sales of figs originated from North America (2.5%), Latin America (2%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (0.5%) and Oceania (0.03%) Australia and New Zealand only.

Shifting our focus to imported figs, the 5 leading importers of figs in 2021 are India, Germany, France, United States of America, and Austria. That quintet of top import countries bought 52.4% of global fig import sales.

Of the global imports total, 53.1% of figs were delivered to European countries ahead of importers in Asia (34.5%), North America (10.1%), Africa (1%), Oceania (1%) mostly Australia, Africa (0.9%), then Latin America (0.3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.

Those percentages suggest a more concentrated cohort of 89 total figs exporters (77.5% for corresponding top 5 exporters) compared to 173 buying countries, islands and territories with the top 5 importers consuming over half (52.4%).

Worldwide, the average unit price paid by figs importers was $4,044 per ton in 2021. That dollar amount reflects a 10.2% upturn from the average tonnage rate of $3,671 for 2020.

For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 080420 for fresh or dried figs.

Top Figs Exports by Country

Below are the top 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of figs during 2021.

  1. Turkey: US$330.5 million (42.8% of total exported figs)
  2. Afghanistan: $167.7 million (21.7%)
  3. Iran: $40.4 million (5.2%)
  4. Austria: $35 million (4.5%)
  5. Germany: $25.6 million (3.3%)
  6. Spain: $25.1 million (3.3%)
  7. Netherlands: $25 million (3.2%)
  8. Greece: $14.9 million (1.9%)
  9. United States: $11.1 million (1.4%)
  10. Italy: $10.4 million (1.3%)
  11. Syria: $10 million (1.3%)
  12. France: $9.6 million (1.2%)
  13. Mexico: $7.9 million (1%)
  14. Brazil: $7 million (0.9%)
  15. Peru: $6.7 million (0.9%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 94% of globally exported figs in 2021.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing figs exporters since 2020 were: Austria (up 52.2%), Syria (up 51.9%), Brazil (up 43.7%) and the Netherlands (up 33.6%).

A pair of top suppliers posted declines in their exported figs sales namely Iran (down -5% from 2020) and the United States of America (down -0.4%).

Top Figs Imports by Country

The overall cost for imported figs amounted to $784.9 million in 2021 rising by 31.2% over the 5-year period starting in 2017 and gaining 16.8% year over year since 2020.

Below are the 15 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of figs imported during 2021.

  1. India: US$163.8 million (20.9% of total imported figs)
  2. Germany: $82 million (10.4%)
  3. France: $71.5 million (9.1%)
  4. United States: $51.6 million (6.6%)
  5. Austria: $42.2 million (5.4%)
  6. United Kingdom: $30.2 million (3.8%)
  7. Netherlands: $30.1 million (3.8%)
  8. Italy: $27.7 million (3.5%)
  9. Canada: $27.3 million (3.5%)
  10. Switzerland: $22.6 million (2.9%)
  11. China: $16.3 million (2.1%)
  12. Belgium: $14.1 million (1.8%)
  13. Japan: $13.3 million (1.7%)
  14. Russia: $12.1 million (1.5%)
  15. United Arab Emirates: $10.4 million (1.3%)

By value, the listed 15 countries bought 78.4% of globally imported figs in 2021.

Among the top importers, the fastest-growing figs importers since 2020 were: mainland China (up 171.8%), Austria (up 40.4%), Italy (up 38.2%) and the Netherlands (up 36.3%).

Russia recorded the most modest increase in their imported figs purchases thanks to its 1.4% upturn.

Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Figs

In 2021, the world’s average unit price for imported figs was US$4,044 per ton.

The average tonnage charge for the number one figs importer, India, was much costlier at $7,034 per ton.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the cheapest average unit prices for imported figs in 2021.

  1. Somalia: US$145 per ton (down -81.1% from 2020)
  2. Lesotho: $370 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
  3. Kyrgyzstan: $379 per ton (up 30.7%)
  4. Niger: $400 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
  5. Kazakhstan: $558 per ton (down -8.4%)
  6. Tajikistan: $583 per ton (down -12.6%)
  7. Democr. Rep. Congo: $667 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
  8. Syria: $702 per ton (down -5%)
  9. Nigeria: $707 per ton (up 2337.9%)
  10. Pakistan: $715 per ton (down -69.5%)
  11. Djibouti: $797 per ton (down -13.1%)
  12. British Virgin Is: $1,000 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
  13. Saint Helena: $1,000 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
  14. Yemen: $1,096 per ton (down -22%)
  15. Sudan: $1,136 per ton (up 0.3%)

Experiencing double-digit reductions in average unit price per ton for figs from 2020 to 2021 were low-cost importers Somalia (down -81.1%), Pakistan (down -69.5%), Yemen (down -22%), Djibouti (down -13.1%) and Tajikistan (down -12.6%).

The following countries paid for imported figs incurring the highest average unit prices.

  1. Ivory Coast: US$21,333 per ton (up 1,424% from 2020)
  2. Brunei Darussalam: $20,000 per ton (up 81.8%)
  3. New Caledonia: $9,500 per ton (up 25.5%)
  4. Panama: $9,269 per ton (up 17.2%)
  5. Maldives: $8,885 per ton (down -32.8%)
  6. Nicaragua: $8,667 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
  7. Guatemala: $8,462 per ton (up 26.4%)
  8. Costa Rica: $8,455 per ton (up 10.9%)
  9. Colombia: $8,368 per ton (down -6.2%)
  10. Aruba: $8,333 per ton (down -3.9%)
  11. Iceland: $8,100 per ton (up 8%)
  12. Barbados: $8,000 per ton (up 33.3%)
  13. Seychelles: $8,000 per ton (up 41.2%)
  14. Greenland: $7,800 per ton (down -5.5%)
  15. French Polynesia: $7,500 per ton (down -21.1%)

The 6 strongest gains in terms of higher average unit prices paid in 2021 compared to 2020 were experienced by Ivory Coast (up 1,424%), Brunei Darussalam (up 81.8%), Seychelles (up 41.2%), Barbados (up 33.3%), Guatemala (up 26.4%) and New Caledonia (up 25.5%).

See also Top Sweet Dates Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices, Pineapples Exports by Country, Top Saffron Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices, Top Garlic Exports by Country and Top Caviar Export Sales by Country, Unit Price & Weight

Research Sources:
Alibaba, Figs Showroom. Accessed on December 22, 2022

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on December 22, 2022

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on December 22, 2022

Wikipedia, Fig. Accessed on December 22, 2022