Spanish fruit and vegetable exports rose by 23 per cent in Julycompared with the same month a year before, with particular increases seen inmelons, stonefruit, potatoes and onions.

However, despite the growth in volumes, the value of thesame exports dropped by 5 per cent, prompting national producer-exporter federationFepex to call for the Spanish government to take urgent action to helpproducers become more competitive.

According to data released today (25 September) by Fepex,although export volumes increased to 598,227 tonnes during July, the value ofthese shipments decreased slightly to €375m; a statistic the organisationblamed on the “strong pressure to reduce prices”.

The federation said the export rise was principally due toan increase in fruit shipments during the month, which totalled 480,303 tonnes,up by 27.5 per cent compared with the same period of 2008.

The most significant export rises were seen in watermelons,which increased by 73 per cent to 107,513 tonnes, while melon and nectarinevolumes also grew by 25 per cent and 27 per cent respectively.

Vegetable exports increased by a more modest 6.7 per cent to117,924 tonnes, with the largest increases registered in potatoes at 62.5 percent and onions at 33 per cent.

However, in spite of the increases in export volumes, Fepexpointed out that average prices in July dropped by 22 per cent compared withthe same month a year previously.

In a statement, the organisation said that the fall inreturns illustrated the “strong pressure on price in all markets caused by theeconomic crisis and imports”.

Fepex said that the data was evidence that the Spanishgovernment needed to take “urgent measures” to improve the competitiveness ofthe country’s fresh produce sector by acting to increase yields, productivityand ease the burden of production costs.

Topics