Sweet, sour, hot or dill, pickled cucumbers are one of the world’s most popular condiments. Globally, exports of pickles were worth a total US$750.3 million in 2021.

That dollar metric reflects a 31.4% increase in value since 2017 when exported pickles amounted to $570.9 million.

Year over year, worldwide sales of pickle exports appreciated by 5.4% compared to $711.9 million during 2020.

The 5 biggest exporters of pickles are Turkey, Germany, India, Netherlands and the United States of America. Collectively, that quintet of leading suppliers accounted for almost three-quarters (73.3%) of globally exported pickles.

Among continents, suppliers in European countries generated the highest dollar worth of exported pickles during 2021 with shipments valued at $347.1 million or 46.3% of the world total. Close behind in second place were Asian exporters at 43.1% while 9.7% of worldwide pickles shipments originated from North America.

Smaller percentages came from suppliers in Africa (0.6%), Latin America (0.2%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Australia and New Zealand in Oceania (0.07%).

For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for pickles is 200110. Technically, the product is described as cucumbers and gherkins prepared or preserved by vinegar or acetic acid.

Top Pickles Exporters by Country

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

1. Turkey: US$138 million (18.4% of total exported pickles)
2. Germany: $136.5 million (18.2%)
3. India: $135.2 million (18%)
4. Netherlands: $78.1 million (10.4%)
5. United States: $62.2 million (8.3%)
6. Poland: $33.6 million (4.5%)
7. Vietnam: $17.9 million (2.4%)
8. Hungary: $14.4 million (1.9%)
9. China: $10.2 million (1.4%)
10. Belgium: $9 million (1.2%)
11. Czech Republic: $8.4 million (1.1%)
12. Canada: $8.2 million (1.1%)
13. Sri Lanka: $8.2 million (1.1%)
14. France: $7.4 million (1%)
15. Russia: $6 million (0.8%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 89.7% of globally exported pickles in 2021.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing exporters of pickles since 2020 were: Belgium (up 49.2%), United States of America (up 38.5%), Russia (up 24.3%) and Canada (up 19.2%).

Those countries that posted declines in their international sales of pickles were: Vietnam (down -13.7%), Czech Republic (down -3.9%), Germany (down -3%), India (down -1.4%) and Sri Lanka (down -1.2%).

Countries Reaping Largest Trade Surpluses from Pickles

The following countries posted the highest positive net exports for pickles during 2021. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the surplus between the value of each country’s exported pickles and its import purchases for that same commodity.

1. Turkey: US$137.3 million (net export surplus up 7.2% since 2020)
2. India: $135.2 million (down -1.2%)
3. Germany: $48.2 million (down -17.4%)
4. Vietnam: $17.5 million (down -15.4%)
5. Poland: $15.1 million (down -6%)
6. Netherlands: $12.2 million (up 57.2%)
7. Sri Lanka: $8.2 million (down -1.2%)
8. Hungary: $6.7 million (up 19.8%)
9. North Macedonia: $4.5 million (down -7.7%)
10. Egypt: $3.5 million (down -5.6%)
11. Syria: $3.1 million (up 65.3%)
12. Lebanon: $2.5 million (down -9%)
13. China: $1.9 million (down -26%)
14. Uzbekistan: $1.6 million (down -15.9%)
15. Iran: $1.6 million (up 31.1%)

Turkey and India generated the highest surpluses in the international trade of pickles. In turn, this positive cashflow confirms their strong competitive advantages for this specific product category.

Countries Enduring Largest Trade Deficits from Pickles

The following countries posted the highest negative net exports for pickles during 2021. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the deficit between the value of each country’s imported pickles purchases and its exports for that same commodity.

1. Canada: -US$59.7 million (net export deficit up 48.7% since 2020)
2. United Kingdom: -$44.1 million (up 0.5%)
3. United States: -$34.3 million (down -32.8%)
4. France: -$30.9 million (down -15.4%)
5. Russia: -$27.8 million (up 33.5%)
6. Switzerland: -$15.8 million (down -3.4%)
7. Romania: -$15.1 million (up 25.5%)
8. Australia: -$13.9 million (up 2%)
9. Czech Republic: -$11.1 million (up 37.9%)
10. Belgium: -$10.5 million (down -9.7%)
11. Spain: -$10 million (down -8.4%)
12. Austria: -$9.5 million (down -6.1%)
13. South Korea: -$8.9 million (up 9.8%)
14. Finland: -$8.6 million (down -3.3%)
15. Denmark: -$7.8 million (up 11.5%)

Canada incurred the highest deficit in the international trade of pickles. In turn, this negative cashflow highlights Canada’s competitive disadvantage for this specific product category but also signals opportunities for pickles-supplying countries that help satisfy the powerful demand from US consumers.

Pickles Exporting Companies

According to global trading platform Alibaba, the following suppliers are examples of pickles exporting companies. The home-country location for each business is shown within parentheses.

• Diane Doux (France)
• Kalaycioglu Gida Pazarlama Sanayi (Turkey)
• Lunii Foods, LLC (United States)
• Marvino Trading Limited (Hong Kong)
• Orient Vietnam Company Limited (Vietnam)
• Riviana Foods Pvt Ltd (India)
• Yantai Reiyo Foods Co Ltd (China)

 

See also Imported Pickles by Country, Top Cucumbers Exporting Countries, Top Sweet Pepper and Chili Pepper Exporters and Eggplant Exports by Country

Research Sources:
Alibaba, Supplier showroom for pickles. Accessed on August 19, 2022

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on August 19, 2022

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 19, 2022

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on August 19, 2022

Wikipedia, Pickled cucumber. Accessed on August 19, 2022