Albanian cabbage dumping in Eastern Europe – exports increased by 71% at the beginning of the year

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 04. 03. 10:07

Albanian cabbage exports to Eastern Europe have increased dramatically in the first months of 2025, according to new data from the Albanian Statistical Office (INSTAT). Thanks to increasingly favorable climatic conditions, the expansion of local production capacities and the shortage of vegetables in the region, Albania has already emerged as a significant player in the region’s markets in February, especially towards Bulgaria, Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic countries, the Agrarszektor points out.

Cabbage above all – from climate advantage to market advantage

Albania’s agriculture has produced spectacular growth in the first two months of 2025: vegetable exports increased by 71% overall, while fruit exports decreased by 48% compared to the same period of the previous year, the professional organization FruitVeB wrote. The main product is cabbage, of which two types are on the export list: head cabbage to the Balkan and Western Balkan countries, while salad cabbage is mainly exported to Northeastern Europe and the Baltics.

The climatic conditions have made it possible to grow cabbage in the open field even in winter, without foil tents or coverings, which reduces costs and provides competitive prices for Albanian producers.

Record growth in Serbia, Poland and Bulgaria

The export dynamics in February are outstanding:

86% more cabbage was shipped to Serbia,
95% more to Bulgaria,
144% more to Poland than a year earlier.

This is partly due to the fact that the end of winter was characterized by weaker harvests and higher prices in several countries in the region, so the markets became open to cheaper, yet high-quality Albanian goods.