HS Code:
The category 'Cucumbers, including gherkins, fresh or chilled' falls under HS Code 070700. This category encompasses fresh or chilled cucumbers and gherkins, which are widely cultivated and traded globally for culinary use in salads, pickling, and other food preparations. Cucumbers are a significant agricultural commodity due to their short growth cycle and high demand in both fresh and processed forms. Global trade in this category is influenced by seasonal production, regional climate advantages, and consumer preferences for fresh produce.
Total Trade Volume
3.2 million metric tons
Data from 2022
Source
United Nations Comtrade Database
750,000 metric tons
23.4% of total trade of total trade
Increasing
650,000 metric tons
20.3% of total trade of total trade
Increasing
400,000 metric tons
12.5% of total trade of total trade
Stable
300,000 metric tons
9.4% of total trade of total trade
Increasing
250,000 metric tons
7.8% of total trade of total trade
Stable
Average Rate
5.2% ad valorem
Highest Rate
35% (applied by certain developing countries to protect local agriculture)
Lowest Rate
0% (under free trade agreements like EU internal trade or USMCA)
Growing demand for organic cucumbers
Increased exports from countries with strong organic certification systems, such as the Netherlands and Spain, while challenging smaller producers to meet standards.
2021-2022
Rise in greenhouse cultivation
Countries like Canada and the Netherlands have boosted year-round production, reducing seasonal trade fluctuations and increasing export reliability.
2020-2022
Shift towards sustainable packaging
Exporters are adopting biodegradable or minimal packaging to meet consumer and regulatory demands in markets like the EU, slightly increasing costs but improving market access.
2022
The European Union introduced stricter phytosanitary controls for cucumber imports to prevent the spread of pests like the cucumber beetle, requiring additional certifications from exporters.
March 2023
Increased compliance costs for exporters, particularly from developing countries, potentially reducing trade volumes to the EU in the short term.
Under the USMCA framework, negotiations have led to reduced tariffs on Mexican cucumbers entering the US market during off-season periods, benefiting US consumers with lower prices.
July 2022
Strengthened Mexico's position as a leading supplier to the US, potentially increasing trade volume by 10-15% over the next few years.
Turkey has signed new trade agreements with several Middle Eastern countries, reducing tariffs on fresh produce like cucumbers and improving logistics for faster delivery.
September 2023
Expected to boost Turkey's export share in the region, diverting some trade from traditional European markets.