Sweden’s organic exports rose to around SEK 1.2 billion (USD150 million ) in 2017 as the growth trend for organic food and drink continued.

This article first appeared in Natural Products Global, part of Diversified’s global natural & organic network. Written by Jim Manson.

Cecilia Lenbäck, sales manager at KRAV, Sweden’s organic certifier and standard setter, said that “demand around the world remains high for KRAV certified produces”, adding that a buoyant export sector was helping to secure more profitability and security for Swedish farmers and processors.

As part of the work to promote the export of Swedish organic foods, KRAV – together with Organic Sweden – commissioned consulting company Macklean to carry out a report on Swedish exports of organic food. Using data from Swedish organic companies, the survey showed that exports of KRAV-labeled and organic foods were around  SEK 1.2 billion in 2017, conforming the upward trend of recent years.

Companies interviewed in the report identify two key ingredients to export success. The first is that companies looking to export must first gain a good knowledge of their target markets, and establish customer contacts on the ground. The second is the importance of marketing products’ Swedish provenance, which helps to strengthen the image of Swedish organic food more generally and build the export market overall.

Charlotte Bladh André is CEO of Organic Sweden, which works to increase exports of KRAV-labeled and organic foods, highlights the importance of China as growth market for Swedish organic exports. “In China there is a large consumer group willing to pay extra for food that is organic. Swedish products are considered to be sustainable, healthy, natural and credible. In addition, if they are organically certified, it is a guarantor for added value in the products.”

In addition to China, Denmark, Germany, France and the UK are identified as promising markets with strong potential for  future for Swedish exports of organic and KRAV-labeled goods. The main categories of foods exported from Sweden include coffee, cereals and bread, berries and jams, other drinks and baby food.

KRAV exhibit at the Nordic Organic Food Fair in Malmo, Sweden and the Natural & Organic Products Asia in Hong Kong, which are part of Diversified Communication’s global network natural trade shows. 

About the author: Jim Manson

Jim Manson is editor-in-chief of Diversified Communications UK‘s natural and organic publishing portfolio. He’s written widely on environment and development issues for specialist magazines and national media, including the Financial Times, The Guardian, The Times, and World Bank Urban Age.

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