It has been a mixed bag for UK fruit and vegetable exports in the first half of 2013.
Although Food and Drink Federation figures have the sector as a whole down 16.7 per cent to £531 million compared to the same period last year, this is mainly because exports of grains and seeds were down 34.7 per cent to £201 million.
Vegetable exports, though, were down 6.5 per cent on last year to £145 million, while the export of British leguminous vegetables during the first two quarters of this year was down 17.4 per cent on last year to £38 million.
Egypt remains the biggest market for the export of leguminous vegetables, accounting for more than half of British exports in the first half of 2013. Exported field peas form part of a popular snack in north Africa and Asia.
Meanwhile, fruit and nut exports in the first half of this year were recorded as being 13.8 per cent up on the same period as last year to £93 million. France increased its intake of such British crops by 56.9 per cent to £9 million.
And the export of potatoes in the first half of 2013 was logged as being 13.1 per cent up on last year to £49 million. Exports to Ireland were up 75.4 per cent to £22 million, while exports to Morocco were up 209 per cent to £5 million.
But Rob Burns, head of seed and export at the British Potato Council, said:“Due to the impact of weather in 2012 on planting and yield, it was a very challenging season for the British potato industry.
“The smaller 2012 harvest meant the cost to produce them had gone up significantly and the price on the open market reflected the reduced supplies. The value of exports has grown due to the higher prices, whiles the volumes are down.
“The high health status of British seed continues to ensure that exports are buoyant, with material being exported to our main markets around the Mediterranean and the Middle East.”
He added: “New destinations are being explored, and Vietnam has been added to our existing export portfolio earlier this month.”
Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium, added:“Exports of most fruit and vegetable sectors which appear in the report have increased, which, after a difficult season, reinforces the potential for UK businesses to both export and import a range of fresh produce both within the EU and beyond.”
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