Spain's fresh produce exports fell in both volume and value terms through November 2014, continuing a trend of declining shipments seen from June last year onwards.
According to the Ministry of Economics' Department of Customs and Excise, year-on-year export volumes fell 2 per cent to 1.2m tonnes, while overall value dropped 3 per cent to €996.7m.
November fruit shipments fell 9.5 per cent in volume and 9 per cent in value, to 695,321 tonnes and €568m respectively, with citrus and persimmon numbers in particular falling.
Vegetable exports, meanwhile, actually showed some growth, with volumes up 9.6 per cent to 544,386 tonnes, and value coming in 7 per cent higher at €428.6m.
Fresh produce body FEPEX said that the negative export performance throughout the year 'confirms the need to correct the competitive disadvantages affecting the sector throughout the community market, the natural market for Spanish horticulture, and to strengthen the effort of opening new markets to offset the loss of the Russian market.'
