Spain melons

Spanish fresh fruit imports are on the rise, according to the latest figures from fresh produce association Fepex.

According to the group, fruit imports came in at €441m in value terms between January and May, up 20 per cent on the same period of 2012.

Similarly, imports grew 1 per cent in volume terms, up to 472,656 tonnes, Fepex noted.

Growth was driven by a number of products, including apples at 106,915 tonnes (up 9.5 per cent in volume and 35.8 per cent in value), bananas at 79,054 tonnes (+4.4 per cent, +25.5 per cent), kiwifruit at 50,458 tonnes (+9.5 per cent, 36 per cent), melons at 41,410 tonnes (+4.5 per cent, +6 per cent) and pears at 28,173 tonnes (+17.9 per cent, +33 per cent).

'For Fepex, this import behaviour highlights the need to improve competitiveness against growing competition both from other EU member states and third countries,' a Fepex said in a statement.

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