Fruit and vegetable juices are considered to be one of the most popular soft drinks worldwide, which are in demand both in the catering sector and in home consumption. With the growing openness of consumers to new drinks, manufacturers annually launch product lines with unusual flavors, for example, with the taste of rare exotic fruits or juices from a mix of vegetables.
Asian countries.
In the Asian region, consumers increasingly prefer natural and freshly squeezed juices. The trend of a healthy lifestyle encourages consumers to choose products rich in essential vitamins and trace elements that do not contain additives such as sweeteners, dyes or preservatives, as a result, there is a demand for products with a high content of fruit and vegetable pulp.
Asia is one of the most attractive regions for juice producers. An increase in disposable incomes and a growing population contribute to the growth of consumption. There is also consumer interest in high-quality and organic products in the countries of the region.
Middle East countries
The growth of disposable incomes of the population in this region generates demand for premium juices, as well as for well-known branded drinks, for which consumers are willing to pay more. With the increasing number of diabetes mellitus diseases and the popularity of the trend for a healthy lifestyle, many consumers are abandoning sugar-containing drinks in favor of more healthy drinks, where sugar is either absent or replaced with a more useful ingredient. Juice producers, who supply their products to the market of this region, focus on healthy and vitamin-enriched drinks with a minimum sugar content, as well as drinks with exotic flavors, which are especially in high demand among children and adolescents.
Also, due to increased taxation on sugar-containing beverages in some countries, for example in Saudi Arabia, consumers are trying to find a cheap replacement for carbonated drinks that have increased in price. This niche is gradually occupied by juices.
African countries
In this region, consumer preferences vary between countries. In more economically developed countries, there is a shift in consumer demand towards juices with a reduced sugar content and with the addition of pulp, but at the same time, most consumers abandon freshly squeezed juices in favor of nectars and juice-containing drinks in order to save money. In low-income countries, the main preference is given to juice drinks with long shelf life. The main sales channel for juices are supermarkets and hypermarkets.
Global market
In 2017-2019, the capacity of the world market of juices and juice-containing beverages amounted to 71 million tons, but by the end of 2020, a 6.2% decrease in the COVID-19 pandemic was followed by 66.2 million tons. In 2021, the market began to show recovery, increasing by 2.0% (+1.3 million tons). At the same time, according to forecasts, the pre-pandemic indicator will be reached only in 2026, and the cumulative average annual growth rate for 2021-2026. It will be about 0.9%.
In 2021, the capacity of the global fruit and vegetable juice market increased by 2.6% in physical terms and by 11.7% in value terms, reaching 19.6 million tons worth 57.2 billion US dollars.
It should be noted that the category "fruit and vegetable juices" in the forecast period will show a low, but outstripping average annual growth rate relative to the juice and juice drinks market as a whole (1.8% in physical terms).
This is due to a reduction in the capacity of the nectars market, as juices are positioned more useful for the body products.
The main consumers of fruit and vegetable juices are the USA, which in 2021 accounted for 29.5% of global consumption in kind. A number of other countries also occupy significant positions: EU countries, Canada, Russia, China and Australia. In total, the top 10 countries accounted for 72% of global consumption in 2021.
During 2017-2020, the import of fruit and vegetable juices in physical terms showed a negative trend (-11.7% compared to 2017), however, by the end of 2021, there was an increase in world imports by 3.3% to 13.9 million tons.
In value terms, the peak volume was recorded in 2018 (US$ 16.1 billion). Relative to the 2020 indicator, the increase in the reporting period in value terms amounted to 5.7% (0.8 billion US dollars).
The main importer of fruit and vegetable juices during 2017-2021. The USA is speaking out, having purchased about 4.3 million tons of products worth $2.4 billion in 2021. The EU countries are also the leading importers: the Netherlands, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. In physical terms, the top 5 importing countries accounted for 62.6% of world imports or 8.7 million tons, while in value terms - almost half (49.8%), which is equivalent to 7.2 billion US dollars.
In 2021, the world export of fruit and vegetable juices amounted to 14.5 billion US dollars, an increase of 10.0% (+1.3 billion US dollars) compared to 2020. In physical terms, exports in 2021 increased to 12.7 million tons (+6.2% by 2020).
The structure of exports of fruit and vegetable juices by country is less concentrated compared to imports. The top 5 supplier countries accounted for 47.1% of exports in kind (about 6 million tons) and 42.7% in value (6.2 billion US dollars).
By the end of 2021, Brazil became the main exporter, accounting for 19.1% of world exports of fruit and vegetable juices in physical terms (2.4 million tons) and 12.9% in value (1.9 billion US dollars). In addition to Brazil, the top 5 largest suppliers of juices to the world market included EU countries (the Netherlands, Spain, Germany and Poland).
