International sales of pears rose by an average 6.4% since 2017 when globally exported pears attracted revenues of $2.62 million.
Year over year, the worldwide value of pear exports increased by 2.2% compared to $2.73 during 2020.
Worldwide there are over 3,000 varieties of pears, according to informational portal Northern Nester. Popular varieties include green and red Anjou, Bartlett, russet brown Bosc, round-shaped Asian, and French Butter pears. Many consumers choose Bosc pears as the tastiest, while Anjou and Bartlett pears are among the juiciest.
Like apples, fresh whole pears are typically eaten in bite-size slices. The skin of a pear is edible, albeit some consumers prefer to peel pears before eating them. Pears can also be cooked or dried.
Key Geographic Facts for Exported & Imported Pears
The 5 biggest exporters of pears are mainland China, Netherlands, Belgium, Argentina and South Africa. Combined, that leading subgroup supplied almost two-thirds (64.8%) worth of globally exported pears during 2021.
Applying a continental lens, countries in Europe sold the highest dollar worth of exported pears during 2021 based on shipments valued at $1.27 billion or 45.5% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Asia at 28.6%. Smaller percentages originated from Africa (12.4%), North America (7.4%), Latin America excluding Mexico (5.6%) but including the Caribbean, and Oceania (0.6%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
Turning to imports, the 5 leading importers of pears in 2021 were Indonesia, Germany, Russia, France and Italy. Collectively, that quintet of top buyers bought over a third (37.7% of globally imported pears).
Those percentages suggest a much more concentrated cohort of 97 total of exporters of pears (64.8% for top 5 suppliers) compared to around 190 importing countries, islands and territories for the 5 biggest importers (37.7%).
Focusing on continental data, 52.7% of globally imported pears was delivered to European countries. That percentage was well ahead of importers in Asia (28.6%), North America (9.7%), Latin America (6.4%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (2.1%), then Oceania (0.4%) due mostly to buyers in New Zealand and Australia.
Worldwide, the average unit price paid by importers of pears was $1,011 per ton in 2021. That dollar amount reflects a -16.8% downtick from the average tonnage rate of $1,216 for 2020.
For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 081070 for fresh pears.
Top Pears Exports by Country
Below are the top 20 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of pears during 2021.
- China: US$605.4 million (21.7% of total exported pears)
- Netherlands: $456.1 million (16.4%)
- Belgium: $317.3 million (11.4%)
- Argentina: $221.8 million (8%)
- South Africa: $204.5 million (7.3%)
- United States: $154.5 million (5.5%)
- Spain: $136 million (4.9%)
- Italy: $126.6 million (4.5%)
- Chile: $124.4 million (4.5%)
- Portugal: $96.3 million (3.5%)
- South Korea: $71.8 million (2.6%)
- Turkey: $51.6 million (1.9%)
- Poland: $50.7 million (1.8%)
- United Arab Emirates: $25.3 million (0.9%)
- Belarus: $20.4 million (0.7%)
- Germany: $13.2 million (0.5%)
- Australia: $12.5 million (0.4%)
- France: $10.2 million (0.4%)
- Lithuania: $9.1 million (0.3%)
- Japan: $8.8 million (0.3%)
By value, the listed 20 countries shipped 97.4% of globally exported pears in 2020.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing pears exporters since 2020 were: Belarus (up 158.1%), Poland (up 35.7%), Japan (up 22.5%) and Spain (up 22.3%).
Major suppliers that posted declines in their exported pears sales were: France (down -36.1%), Lithuania (down -24.8%), Argentina (down -12%), United Arab Emirates (down -11.6%) and mainland China (down -9.3%).
Top Pears Imports by Country
The overall cost for imported pears totaled $2.85 billion in 2021, appreciating by 8.2% over the 5-year period starting in 2017 and moving ahead by 2.4% year over year since 2020.
Below are the 20 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of pears imported during 2021.
- Indonesia: US$317.3 million (11.1% of total imported pears)
- Germany: $253.8 million (8.9%)
- Russia: $194.1 million (6.8%)
- France: $158 million (5.5%)
- Italy: $152.1 million (5.3%)
- United States: $123.3 million (4.3%)
- United Kingdom: $119.2 million (4.2%)
- Netherlands: $111.4 million (3.9%)
- Brazil: $92.8 million (3.3%)
- Canada: $91.3 million (3.2%)
- Spain: $80.2 million (2.8%)
- Thailand: $78.8 million (2.8%)
- Belarus: $78.6 million (2.8%)
- Mexico: $63.2 million (2.2%)
- Hong Kong: $54.7 million (1.9%)
- Philippines: $51.3 million (1.8%)
- Poland: $43.9 million (1.5%)
- Malaysia: $38.8 million (1.4%)
- United Arab Emirates: $31.9 million (1.1%)
- Saudi Arabia: $31.7 million (1.1%)
By value, the listed 20 countries bought 75.9% of globally imported pears in 2021.
Among the top importers, the fastest-growing pears importers since 2020 were: Spain (up 37.3%), Thailand (up 29.8%), Italy (up 26.5%) and France (up 13.1%).
Leading buyers that posted double-digit percentage declines in their imported pears purchases were led by: Mexico (down -22.3%), Poland (down -15.9%), United Kingdom (down -15.3%), United Arab Emirates (down -15.1%) and Brazil (down -12.4%).
Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Pears
In 2021, the world’s average unit price for imported pears was US$1,011 per ton shrinking by -16.8% from $1,216 per ton one year earlier for 2020.
The average tonnage charge paid by the leading pears importer, Indonesia, was an above-average $1,397 for 2021.
Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported pears in 2021.
- Niger: US$169 per ton (up 7.6% from 2020)
- Mauritania: $186 per ton (down -0.5%)
- Pakistan: $261 per ton (down -14.7%)
- Syria: $286 per ton (down -9.8%)
- Paraguay: $329 per ton (up 37.7%)
- Laos: $336 per ton (up 1.5%)
- Zimbabwe: $337 per ton (up 54.6%)
- Georgia: $337 per ton (down -25.1%)
- Iraq: $358 per ton (down -39.5%)
- Myanmar: $405 per ton (up 29.4%)
- Lebanon: $410 per ton (down -13.1%)
- Zambia: $457 per ton (up 11.5%)
- Uzbekistan: $470 per ton (down -25.4%)
- Lesotho: $480 per ton (up 12.1%)
- Gabon: $489 per ton (down -17.8%)
Recording the biggest reductions in average unit price paid per ton for pears from 2020 to 2021 were low-cost importers Iraq (down -39.5%), Uzbekistan (down -25.4%), Georgia (down -25.1%), Gabon (down -17.8%), Pakistan (down -14.7%) then Lebanon (down -13.1%).
The following countries paid for imported pears costing the highest average unit prices.
- Northern Mariana Islands: US$6,000 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
- Mozambique: $4,740 per ton (up 25.3% from 2020)
- South Korea: $4,737 per ton (up 43.9%)
- US Minor Outlying Islands: $3,688 per ton (up 34.6%)
- Jamaica: $3,000 per ton (up 135.3%)
- Bermuda: $2,873 per ton (up 15.2%)
- Grenada: $2,655 per ton (up 4.7%)
- Kiribati: $2,579 per ton (down -30.8%)
- Solomon Islands: $2,500 per ton (up 78.6%)
- Aruba: $2,370 per ton (up 3.8%)
- Saint Lucia: $2,333 per ton (up 14.4%)
- Ethiopia: $2,283 per ton (up 13%)
- Taiwan: $2,272 per ton (up 8.7%)
- Bhutan: $2,254 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
- Wallis & Futuna Islands: $2,227 per ton (up 27.3%)
Garnering the strongest percentage gains in terms of higher average unit prices in 2021 for pears compared to 2020 were importers in Jamaica (up 135.3%), Solomon Islands (up 78.6%), South Korea (up 43.9%), United States Minor Outlying Islands (up 34.6%), Wallis and Futuna Islands (up 27.3%) and Mozambique (up 25.3%).
Related Reads: Top Apricots Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices
See also Top Cranberries Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices, Top Strawberries Exporters by Country, Top Persimmons Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices, Sweet Cherries Exports by Country and Bananas Exporters Ranked by Average Prices & Shipment Weight
Research Sources:
Alibaba, Pears Showroom. Accessed on December 26, 2022
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on December 26, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on December 26, 2022
Northern Nester, 10 Popular And Common Types of Pears – Complete Guide 2022. Accessed on December 26, 2022
Wikipedia, Pear. Accessed on December 26, 2022
