Spanish fruit and vegetable exports dropped by 3 per cent in volume terms to 7.1m tonnes during 2010 compared with the same period a year before, partly as a result of increasing competition both inside and outside Europe.
But, while exports are certainly down on the 2009 figure, initial indications during last year suggested the situation could have been considerably worse.
According to data from national producer-exporter federation Fepex, the first half of 2010 featured major decreases in export shipments, falling by 13 per cent in March compared with the same period a year before, 14 per cent in April, 12 per cent in May and 9 per cent in June.
However, helped largely by strong stonefruit sales, the Spanish export sector’s fortunes improved considerably during the second half of the year, ensuring that the overall export total for the year was closer to that recorded in 2009.
In a statement, Fepex said that rising competition from producers both inside and outside Europe was primarily to blame for the fall in exports during the first six months of 2010.
Despite this, the organisation said that the value of Spain’s fresh produce exports increased by 11 per cent during 2010 compared with the year before to E6.6m.
Europe remained the Spanish fruit and vegetable sector’s principal export market last year, accounting for 98 per cent of total exports, with Germany, France and the UK the main destinations.
