bananas

Spanish year-on-year fresh fruit and vegetable imports climbed 13 per cent in volume and 21 per cent in value during May.

According to the most recent data from the Director General of Customs, fresh produce imports came to 256,035 tonnes at €215.7m, Fepex reported.

The monthly growth was driven by fresh fruit, which jumped 27 per cent to 165,009 tonnes and 21.6 per cent to €161m.

Fepex highlighted increases in bananas, which jumped 19 per cent to 26,811 tonnes, apples, up 25.6 per cent to 25,007 tonnes, and watermelons, which grew 20 per cent to 19,867 tonnes.

Also making strides were kiwifruit, up 26.6 per cent to 17,854 tonnes, pineapples, which climbed 7.7 per cent to 13,950 tonnes, and avocados which grew 74 per cent to 13,058 tonnes.

Vegetable imports meanwhile dropped 5.8 per cent in volume to 91,026 tonnes, while value declined even further, down 22.6 per cent to €54.7m.

This decline was attributed to the potato category, which dropped off by 12 per cent in volume to 55,002 tonnes, although value actually grew 50 per cent to €16.7m.