Exports of Spanish-grown tomatoes rose during the first half of 2013, according to new figures released by fresh produce organisation Fepex.
Overseas sales came in at 640,960 tonnes, up 9.5 per cent year-on-year, mainly driven by EU demand and increased exports to Russia and Belarus.
Of the total, some 602,425 tonnes were exported to EU countries, representing 94 per cent of total shipments – an increase of 7 per cent on the opening six months of 2012.
Germany was the largest importer with 132,888 tonnes, 11 per cent more than the previous year, followed by France with 95,471 tonnes (+5 per cent).
The UK took on 87,781 tonnes, representing yearly growth of 3 per cent, backing claims made in late July by Phil Morley of the country's Tomato Growers Association that imports could dominate UK shelves this summer.
'The recent summer weather has been a welcome benefit for UK growers who are seeing both yields and demand improving,' he had told the Fresh Produce Journal, 'though cheap imported tomatoes from southern Europe continue to dominate the shelves of some of our supermarkets, and we believe the demand for British is very much a priority for shoppers.'
Russia has become the primary non-EU destination for Spanish tomatoes, doubling its imports to 24,059 tonnes in the first half, with exports to Belarus jumping from 543 tonnes in 2012 to 5,622 tonnes.
Exports to all countries outside of Europe came to 244 tonnes, Fepex added.
