Spanish fruit and vegetable exports grew by 7.5 per cent to 3.745m tonnes in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the year-earlier period according to the latest figures from Fepex. In value terms they increased by 9.9 per cent to €3.487m.
The improved performance was due to the recovery in vegetable exports, which rose by 8.2 per cent in volume and 14 per cent in value in March, offsetting declines in January and February. Overall, vegetable volumes remained virtually unchanged, rising by 0.61 per cent but their export value increased by 5.37 per cent.
By product the biggest increases were seen in courgettes (+ 77.7 per cent to €138m), cabbage (+17 per cent to €187m), and lettuce (+4 per cent to €251m). However the value of pepper and tomato exports fell by 1.4 per cent and 3 per cent to €323m and €412m respectively.
Fruit exports grew by 15.28 per cent in volume and 15.34 per cent in value, totaling 1.893m tonnes and €1.668bn. This was mainly due to the rise in citrus exports, notably oranges which increased by 28.5 per cent to €456m, and berries (+29 per cent to €350m).
Germany, France and the UK remained the leading markets, with shipments growing by 8 per cent, 18 per cent and 14 per cent respectively in value terms. Overall, the EU accounted for 93.7 per cent of total exports (€3.269bn). By contrast, exports to non-EU countries declined by 17 per cent Fepex said.
Meanwhile fruit and vegetable imports in the first quarter increased 1.6 per cent in volume and 8.8 per cent in value on the same period in 2014, totaling 631,529 tonnes and €456.4m. Fruit imports rose by 2,7 per cent in volume and 13.8 per cent in value, reaching 282 427 tonnes and €286.5m respectively. Vegetable imports stood at 349,102 tonnes (+ 0.7 per cent) and €169.8m (+ 1.4 per cent).
Fepex said the uneven performance of products with similar export markets underlined the strong competition from Morocco in products such as tomatoes.
