What this market covers
Foods preserved by drying with warm moving air, such as fruit, vegetables, meat and pet treats. Buyers are consumers looking for shelf stable snacks and food makers that need dried ingredients.
Typical segments
- Dried fruit
- Dried vegetables
- Air dried meat
- Pet treats
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +78% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
- Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
- US employment in the core industry shifted +1% since 2020.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €228.4 million of products under CN code 07129090 (Dried vegetables and mixtures of vegetables, whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder, but) from outside the EU in 2025. | 228.4 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 07129090 were up 78% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€128.6 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | +78 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 07129090 to countries outside the EU were worth €109.3 million in 2025. | 109.3 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 07129090 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €265.2 million in 2025. | 265.2 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| China was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 07129090 to the EU in 2025, with €146.0 million, or 64% of extra-EU imports. | 146.0 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 07129090 to the United States were €36.1 million in 2025. | 36.1 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 07129090 was €3.30 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 3.30 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Germany was the largest EU exporter of CN 07129090 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €37.5 million. | 37.5 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 9,934 enterprises in NACE class C1039 (Other processing and preserving of fruit and vegetables) in 2023. | 9,934 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C1039 had net turnover of €64.80 billion in 2023. | 64.80 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C1039 employed 208,500 people across the EU in 2023. | 208,500 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 369 private establishments in NAICS 311423 (Dried and dehydrated food manufacturing) in 2025. | 369 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 311423 employed an average of 12,642 people in US private industry in 2025. | 12,642 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 311423 changed by +1% between 2020 (12,491 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | +1 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 311423 was $65,229 in 2025. | 65,229 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 07129090, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 228416042
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 07129090, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 128591975; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 228416042
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 07129090, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 109323251
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 07129090, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 265189431
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 07129090, partner CN, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 146036034
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 07129090, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 36113982
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 07129090, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 228416042, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 691797
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter DE, product 07129090, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 37511922
- Figure 8
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1039, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 9934
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1039, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 64803
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1039, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 208500
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 311423, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 311423, annual_avg_estabs 369
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 311423, annual_avg_emplvl 12642
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 12491; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 12642
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 311423, avg_annual_pay 65229
- Figure 12
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Grocery retailers
- Food manufacturers
- Online snack brands
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
- PDF report, 40 to 60 pages
- Excel data pack
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU air dried food market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €228.4 million of goods under CN 07129090 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €109.3 million.
Where does the EU import air dried food from?
China was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included Egypt, Serbia, United Kingdom.
What is the average import price of air dried food in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €3.30 per kilogram for CN 07129090 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most air dried food?
Germany led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by France, Hungary.
How many US companies are in the air dried food industry?
BLS counts 369 private establishments in NAICS 311423 (Dried and dehydrated food manufacturing), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the air dried food industry?
Eurostat counts 9,934 enterprises in NACE class C1039 (Other processing and preserving of fruit and vegetables).
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