The volume of Spanish fruit and vegetable exports increased by 0.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2014 compared with the year-earlier period, reaching 3.4m tonnes, according to the latest figures from export federation Fepex. The value of exports rose by 1.4 per cent to €3.172bn.
Fepex said the growth rate was lower than in previous years, due mainly to the political uncertainty in eastern Europe and a fall in the volume of oranges, mandarins and strawberries sold overseas. Overall, the volume of fruit exported fell by 10.7 per cent to 1.6m tonnes, or €1.446bn (-4.8 per cent) in value terms.
Vegetable exports increased by 7 per cent in value and 13 per cent in volume, reaching 1.8m tonnes with an equivalent sales value of €1.726bn. Tomatoes, lettuce, peppers and cucumbers are the main products exported during this period.
Exports to the European Union were broadly in line with the first quarter of 2013, rising 0.4 per cent to 3.22m tonnes. Sendings to Russia and the Ukraine fell by 14 per cent and 8 per cent respectively due to the political turmoil in the region. While shipments to countries outside Europe grew by 16 per cent, they still represent a tiny fraction of exports, totalling 97,409 tonnes, Fepex said. Overall, exports to non-EU markets grew by 1 per cent to 262,948 tonnes.
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