EU cucumber harvest up, but imports from Morocco and Turkey accelerate
European cucumber production has increased by 7.7% over the past decade, but imports from Morocco and Turkey are growing much faster than domestic output, affecting market dynamics in the EU.
The European Union's cucumber harvest averaged 7.7% higher in the 2022–2024 period compared to 2015–2017, according to Eurostat data. Despite this growth, the area under cucumber cultivation is shrinking across the EU, with the sector relying increasingly on greenhouse production. Spain, the Netherlands, and France have seen slight declines in production, while Italy and Poland expanded their cucumber output in recent years.
The trade balance for cucumbers has shifted, as imports from Morocco and Turkey are increasing more rapidly than domestic EU production. The EU remains largely self-sufficient, but the growing presence of these non-EU suppliers is intensifying competition, especially during periods of lower European supply. This trend may impact wholesale and retail prices in importing countries, including Poland.
In Belarus, cucumber and gherkin production in the first half of 2026 declined by 1.6% year-on-year to 31,957 tonnes. Despite a 4.6% increase in total greenhouse vegetable output, Belarus has added cucumbers to its state off-season order system, setting maximum prices for November through March to secure domestic supply. The country uses 44.6 hectares for off-season cucumber cultivation under supplemental lighting.
German wholesale markets report steady summer demand for greenhouse vegetables, with Spanish and Mediterranean cucumbers playing a major role in supply. The activity in distribution hubs like Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, and Berlin is characterized by operational fluidity and price stability, supported by both ongoing Spanish imports and the staggered arrival of local harvests.
The fluctuations in European cucumber harvests are linked to weather and disease pressures, causing annual variations despite the upward trend. This variability, combined with the rise in imports from Morocco and Turkey, continues to influence cucumber availability and pricing across Europe and recipient markets such as Poland.
Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker · Illustrative image generated by AI