Consumption and Trade 
France is optimistic about its ability to become an important factor in the EC canned deciduous fruit market, 
and present plans anticipate that the European housewife of tomorrow will place more French canned fruits on her 
shopping menu. French production of most canned fruit items in syrup is expanding, and sufficient clingstone peach 
acreage has been planted to support a clingstone peach pack approaching 1,900,000 cases, equivalent 24/2%’s, by 
1974. Additional plantings will be concentrated mainly in the Hérault and Gard areas and on Corsica. 
France is a still net importer of canned deciduous fruit. During 1967, imports of all canned deciduous fruit 
totaled 630,200 cases, while exports totaled 56,100 cases. Steady growth is expected in the domestic market for 
canned fruit, but per capita consumption will remain well below levels in West Germany and Belgium for some time 
to come. Retail prices for canned peaches have been declining but are still relatively high. Even a doubling of the 
apparent 1965 per capita canned peach consumption of 0.4 pounds would place French consumption below that in 
other EC countries. Imports of Greek canned peaches have been increasing rapidly and may provide stiff 
competition in the domestic market in coming years. 
Apparent Per Capita Consumption of Canned Fruit in EC Countries, 1962-1965 
1962 1963 1964 1965 
Country 
Pounds Pounds Pounds Pounds 
WestiGermany. %).ccuersnene er M12 10.8 112 12.8 
Belpiumme a ks eee aos 15.4 132 9.0 (?) 
EranCeWens chs choot eete Sea Sat/ 6.4 6.0 11ES) 
ais ine a etre aurs, 523 StS dal 6.8 
Re dos Stites es 2.0 2.0 2.0 (?) 
1 
Not available. 
Source: Centre National du Commerce Exterieur 
Foreign trade is now tilted heavily toward imports. Imports of canned fruit have increased steadily and totaled 
630,000 cases, equivalent 24/2%’s, in 1967. This trend is expected to reverse as French packs increase. Exports are 
now minor but can be expected to increase during the early 1970’s. Exports of canned fruit in 1967 totaled 56,100 
cases, of which peaches accounted for 2,800 cases. 
As larger canned deciduous fruit packs develop, France can be expected to utilize her favored position’ for 
exports to other countries within the EC. The principal canned deciduous fruit item imported by EC countries is 
peaches. EC imports of canned peaches totaled 4.2 million cases in calendar years 1966 and 1967. The principal 
import markets are West Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium-Luxembourg. West Germany imported 3.2 million 
cases of peaches in both 1966 and 1967. Dutch imports totaled 452,000 cases in 1967 and those of 
Belgium-Luxembourg, 343,000 cases. 
: 1 Proximity to EC markets, common external tariff, and EC sugar-added levy imposed on imports from third countries. The EC 
sugar-added levy system is explained in “EC Sugar-Added Regulation for Processed Fruits and Vegetables,” Foreign Agricultural 
Circular FCAN 2-68. 
