Spain Fruit Logistica 2012

Germany, France, the Netherlands and the UK all spent more on Spanish fresh produce during the first nine months of 2012, according to new data published by the country's main export union Fepex.

As a result, the Mediterranean country exported 7.4 per cent more fruit and vegetables and earned more from their sale during the first nine months of 2012.

At €6.7bn, the 7.8m tonnes of fresh produce sold outside the country were worth around 10.5 per cent more than the shipments it made in the same period of 2011.

Tomatoes and peppers were the strongest performers in the vegetable category, earning €668m (+13 per cent) and €424m (+3 per cent) respectively.

Spanish fruit exporters enjoyed a particularly strong nine months according to the figures, with the value of fruit exports up 12 per cent year-on-year at €4.04bn and volume 9 per cent higher at 4.8m tonnes.

Citrus continued to be the biggest export earner, followed by strawberries, nectarines and peaches.

Strawberry export revenue increased 19 per cent compared with January-September last year to €513m, while peach export sales were 27 per cent up at €272m.

Revenue from exports of raspberries, for which Spain is not usually renowned, came to €96m, around 22 per cent more than in the same month of 2011.

Other countries within the EU remain the main markets for Spanish fruit and vegetable exports, buying 92 per cent of the total during January-September.

Germany, France, the UK and the Netherlands are all reported to have imported more Spanish fruit during that time.

Germany spent 13 per cent more year-on-year on Spanish fresh produce at €1.55bn, with similar increases in France at €1.32bn (+13 per cent) and the Netherlands at €586m (+18 per cent).

Export sales to the UK rose by just 2 per cent, however, for a total value of €871m.