2015 brings more value to exports of fresh fruits and vegetables of Murcia
Exports of fresh fruit and vegetables in the Region of Murcia (Spain) during 2015 have increased in value by 7.8% with respect to the previous year, reaching 2,376.5 million euros, according to Proexport made from information Customs. Instead, the volume of Murcian fruit and vegetable exports by 1.4%, to 2,535,480 tons was reduced.
Export figures explain why more than 100,000 jobs depend directly and indirectly on agriculture in Murcia. Proexport points between the elements that contribute to its maintenance fix definitively the serious problem of lack of water for irrigation, complete negotiations to open new markets in Asia, the Americas and to end the Russian veto and progress in improving the organization of production and marketing in origin.
According to Proexport, the figures for 2015 indicate an improvement in profitability compared to 2014 in the whole of the Murcian export must be analyzed with magnifying glass, because the poor performance in recent months prices could truncate this favorable trend. Murcia remains one of the major exporting regions since, after Valencia (33%) and Andalusia (30%), representing 19.8% of the national volume exported.
The data are very different for products as a result of a year that has climatological been extraordinary and could be divided into 3 parts: a period from January to May recovery prices in the horticultural sector, both outdoors and in greenhouses, summer extremely warm temperatures that advanced the production of fruit, contributed to improve consumption on arrival, but was forced to delay the vegetable transplants, and the October-December period has been characterized by the absence of cold, occasional excess supply available and a lower prices charged at source which is forcing horticultural producers to take tough measures crisis management at the beginning of 2016.
By products
In vegetables, the region increased by 6.2% the value of its exports, reaching 1,124.9 million euros (23,25% of the national total). With exported 1,180,378 tons of vegetables, Murcia fell by 5.7% compared to 2014 their numbers.
Lettuce remains by far the highest figures product brings to the Murcian fruit and vegetable export. Although it was sent in 2015 by 2.1% less than the previous year, 501,985 tons worth 423 million euros were achieved. The Murcia region supplies about 70% of lettuce exported by Spain.
After this product group cabbage (broccoli, cauliflower and others) contributed EUR 293 million in 2015, 5.8% more than the previous year. The volume of exports amounted to 300,413 tons, representing 67% of the Murcian exports.
Tomato, vegetable third in importance for the Region of Murcia, has returned to leading exports falls from 19.7% in 2015, from 129,487 to 103,999. Although in 2014 stabilized its fall, unfair competition from third countries, especially Morocco, it has returned to harm regional productions. Murcia represents 11% of national tomato exports, with a value of 103 million euros. The fourth product is the pepper regional importance, which in 2015 exported 73,767 tons. and increased by 7% in value, exceeding 100 million euros.
Murcia also excels in other vegetables like celery, of which 76,255 tonnes were exported in 2015 and where the region accounts for 73% of national exports.
In chapter fruit, the region increased its exports by 2.7% in 2015, to 1,355,102 tons, worth 1,251 million euros (8.6% more than the previous year) .The lemon is the one higher volume in this paragraph represents 421,083 tons, valued at 415.4 million euros.
It has also been remarkable growth of table grapes, a product that ranks second in the value of fruit exports in the region of Murcia, with 199 million euros in 2015 and 92,581 tons. 66.5% of table grapes exported in Spain has its origin in Murcia.
Melon exports grew above 9% both in volume and in value, reaching 230,487 tons and 145 million euros. From the Region 53% of the national melon is exported. Watermelon, with 160,921 tonnes exported registered a growth of 11.5% over last year, exceeding the value of 61 million euros. Nectarines, with 85 million euros and 74,103 tons, and peach, with 77 million euros and 68 009 tonnes, complete the main fruit exported in 2015.
Source: Proexport
