Top Carrot Countries
China Produces Over a Third of Carrot Global Crop
Canada imports the most carrots by weight while America is the export leader; but which countries pay the lowest and highest prices in the global carrot trade?
One medium-sized raw carrot contains a remarkable 172% of the average daily requirements for vitamin A, a nutrient that promotes strong vision particularly in low light. Vitamin A also helps to form and maintain healthy teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucous membranes and skin.
In addition, a carrot satisfies 10% of the average daily requirements for vitamin C, 8% of dietary fibre needs, 6% of potassium needs and 2% of calcium needs. With about 26 calories and 0% fat, carrots are a favourite ingredient in many popular weight-loss diet plans including those from Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig.
Descendants of the original orange carrot breed from the Netherlands, typical supermarket carrots have been grown in the United States since the 1600s.
Top Carrot Producers
Led by China, the 5 countries listed below grew about 55% of the global carrot crop in 2005.
- China … 34% of global carrot production
- United States … 7%
- Russia … 7%
- Poland … 4%
- United Kingdom … 3%
Top Ten Carrot Exporters
In 2004, the following nations exported the most carrots by weight.
- Netherlands … 293,142 metric tons (23.1% of top ten total)
- China … 286,090 metric tons (22.5%)
- Belgium … 130,695 metric tons (10.3%)
- United States … 129,427 metric tons (10.2%)
- France … 90,043 metric tons (7.1%)
- Spain … 85,506 metric tons (6.7%)
- Italy … 81,359 metric tons (6.4%)
- Canada … 72,536 metric tons (5.7%)
- Australia … 59,856 metric tons (4.7%)
- Mexico … 40,413 metric tons (3.2%)
At US$731 per metric ton, American carrots dictate the highest unit prices. Second and third place goes to Italy ($588) and Spain ($565) respectively, followed by Australia ($432), France ($338) and Canada ($329).
Among the top ten nations, the lowest-priced carrots in 2004 were from the nation that founded orange carrots, the Netherlands ($204), followed by Mexico ($234) and China ($243).
Top Ten Carrot Importers
The following countries imported the most carrots by weight in 2004.
- Belgium … 252,865 metric tons (24.2% of top ten total)
- Germany … 159,983 metric tons (15.3%)
- France … 111,009 metric tons (10.6%)
- Canada … 108,741 metric tons (10.4%)
- Russia … 99,294 metric tons (9.5%)
- United States … 97,615 metric tons (9.3%)
- South Korea … 61,002 metric tons (5.8%)
- Japan … 58,649 metric tons (5.6%)
- Malaysia … 52,288 metric tons (5%)
- United Kingdom … 43,093 metric tons (4.1%)
Belgium ($162 per metric ton) and Russia ($178) paid the lowest unit prices for imported carrots.
At $749 per metric ton, Canada pays the highest unit prices for imported carrots followed closely by the United Kingdom ($708).
The remaining 6 countries of the top ten carrot importers pay unit prices that range from the United States’ $319 to Germany’s $428 per metric ton.
References
This article presents independent calculations and insights based on key statistics from the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (fao.org) and Dole Food Company’s Fun Facts About Carrots.
