Spanish fruit and vegetable exports grew strongly in 2015 thanks to stronger demand in the European Union and a switch by producers to higher value items.
The latest estimates from exporter federation Fepex suggest that the volume of fruit and vegetable exports is on course to rise by 5-7 per cent to more than 13m tonnes, while the increase in value will be more than 10 per cent, topping €13bn.
The association said most of the increase was due to high-value products such as berries which now account for a greater share of overall exports, along with the recovery in demand across key European markets. Exports to Germany rose by 17 per cent in the nine months to October while in the case of France and the UK they increased by 15 per cent.
Fepex said the industry faced a number of challenges in 2016 including the Russian embargo and trade distortions resulting from the introduction of direct payments under the reformed Common Agricultural Policy.
“This year we hope to maintain the same level of growth as in 2015 based on the recovery of the European market and the opening of new export markets, while strengthening the international trade fair Fruit Attraction, which has become the sector’s main means of promotion,” Fepex said.
