Spanish fresh produce association Fepex has revealed this week that the country's fruit and vegetable imports increased by 2 per cent in volume terms during 2010, up to 2.4m tonnes, while imported produce value soared 10 per cent to €1.4bn.
Fepex reported that fruit registered the highest growth through the 12-month period, up 4 per cent to 1.2m tonnes, at a value of €965m, while vegetables climbed 6 per cent in value to €510m from 1.2m tonnes.
Leading the fruit and vegetable categories were apples and potatoes respectively, with imports of the former up 9 per cent in both value and volume to 210,071 tonnes (€150m), while the latter rose 10 per cent in volume to 778,529 tonnes, or a value of €187m (up 24 per cent).
France lead the way as the largest supplier of fresh produce, with its 825,984 tonnes representing some 33 per cent of Spain's overall fruit and vegetable import, year-on-year growth of 5 per cent.
Italy, with 134,458 tonnes, and the UK, with 117,969 tonnes, followed France as leading suppliers for Spain, although these totals represented differing yearly changes – down 15 per cent on 2009 for Italy, but up 33 per cent for the UK.
Fepex noted that the jump in imports over the previous year was an indication of the loss of competitiveness of some Spanish fresh produce, while it also highlighted a greater consumer need for year-round supply of certain fruits and vegetables.
Meanwhile, Fepex has highlighted the increasing importance of Russia as a trading partner by revealing that Spanish exports to the country increased 39 per cent in volume terms through 2010, up to 165,136 tonnes, at a value of €134.6m (up 70 per cent).
While the EU remains Spain's leading produce destination, Fepex noted that Russia has become increasingly important, with horticultural shipments growing 35 per cent between 2006-2010 from 121,956 tonnes to 165,136, with value up 86 per cent from €72.5m to €134.6m.
