Fruit and vegetable export to the United Kingdom grows by 6% in volume
The Spanish export of fresh fruits and vegetables stood at 1.2 million tons and 1,427 million euros, until October 2019, which reflects a 6% growth in volume and a stabilization of the value compared to the same period of the previous year , according to the latest data updated by the Customs and Excise Department. The United Kingdom remains the third market in the Spanish sector, facing 2020, when Brexit will become a reality and the Commission and the British government will negotiate the new commercial relationship.
The Spanish export of fresh fruits and vegetables to the United Kingdom grew in volume in all the months of the analyzed period, from January to October, with the highest growth in January, with 166,343 tons exported (+ 9%), May, with 148,052 tons ( + 10%) and July with 115,816 tons (+ 13%). The value, on the other hand, grew in the first three months of the year and then has fallen, reflecting the pressure on prices observed in the whole Community market.
By products, until October 2019, 48,232 tons of fruits were exported, highlighting, with volumes exceeding 10,000 tons, citrus and table grapes, nectarine with 5,505 tons, plum with 1,992 tons, apple with 1,938 t, peach with 1,905 t, persimmon with 1,616 tons … 45,078 were exported in vegetables, of which 7,390 corresponded to lettuce, 7,107 to onion, 6,534 to cucumber, 5,312 to pepper, 5,062 to tomato, and so on.
Both the monthly distribution of exports, with significant volumes throughout the year, as well as the diversity of fruits and vegetables sold in the United Kingdom, reflect the importance of this market for the Spanish sector, which is why FEPEX considers that, after Brexit, which will be formalized on January 31, the new trade agreement reached by the European Commission and the United Kingdom will be decisive, which will be negotiated throughout this year, with the priority for the fruit and vegetable sector maintaining Same commercial flow and fluidity of shipments.
