Greek kiwi fruit has secured its position as one of the country's most dynamic export products, with production doubling over the past decade and new international markets continuing to open. For northern Greece in particular, the fruit has become a flagship of the region's outward-looking agri-food economy.
Official data from Greece's Ministry of Rural Development and Food show that domestic kiwi production rose from 171719 tonnes in 2014 to 341998 tonnes in 2024, a 100% increase over 10 years. The growth reflects sustained investment in new plantings, improved cultivation methods and stronger organisation of producers in traditional growing areas.
Northern Greece remains the backbone of the sector. Between 2014 and 2024, Central Macedonia produced a total of 1402269 tonnes, followed by Epirus with 720800 tonnes and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace with 697501 tonnes. These three regions form the core of both production and export activity, having invested in modern infrastructure, standardisation and quality control.
As the ministry's secretary general for Rural Development and Food, Spiros Protopsaltis, put it, "the data show that kiwi has become one of the strongest cards of Greek fresh fruit production, with almost a doubling of output from 2014 to 2024 and with a stable base in Regions that have invested in quality and in the organisation of cultivation". He added that "Central Macedonia, Epirus and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace reflect, through the volumes of the decade, how systematically this export momentum was built".
By 13 February in the current trading season, around 154069 tonnes of Greek kiwi had been shipped abroad. Key destinations include Spain (21421 tonnes), the United States (18259 tonnes), Italy (15031 tonnes), Brazil (13936 tonnes), and Poland (8592 tonnes). The geographical spread shows steady global demand and the fruit's growing international reputation. According to UN Comtrade data, Greece ranked third worldwide in kiwi export value in 2024.
The latest milestone is the opening of the Vietnamese market after a technical process that began in 2016. Final written approval was granted on 13 February 2026, with exports permitted from 1 March 2026. The agreement covers all varieties, both green- and yellow-fleshed, subject to phytosanitary certification and cold treatment requirements.
With a population of around 102 million and fruit and vegetable imports exceeding 1.9 billion US dollars in the first nine months of 2025, Vietnam represents a significant opportunity. Protopsaltis described the deal as "the result of systematic cooperation", adding that it "opens new possibilities for the product and strengthens Greece's position in a dynamic Asian market… creating a new corridor for a product that already holds the top position among Greek fruits".
