Fruit and vegetable exports grow in volume and value

Fresh fruit and vegetable exports grow by 10% in volume and 5% in value until July, although with a disparate behavior between fruits and vegetables.

The Spanish export of fresh fruits and vegetables in the first seven months of the year has grown by 10% in volume, compared to the same period of 2018, totaling 8.4 million tons and 5% in value, standing at 8,673 million euros, according to the latest data updated by the Customs and Excise Department, made public this week.

Vegetable sales from January to July 2019 amounted to 3.5 million tons and 3,753 million euros, with a growth of 5% in volume and 11% in value compared to the same period of 2018, highlighting, within the group of most exported vegetables, the positive behavior of pepper, cabbage and zucchini, both in volume and value. Pepper sales were 510,253 tonnes (+ 7%) and 734 million euros (+ 17%), cabbage was 370,071 tonnes (+ 20%) and 389 million euros (+ 21%) and Zucchini rose to 258,888 tons (+ 8%) and 215 million euros (+ 14%).

It also highlights the export of tomato, the most exported vegetable in the analyzed period, although it registered a decrease in relation to the same period of the previous year of 6% in volume and 1% in value, totaling 516,685 tons and 602 million euros. The export of lettuce, the second most exported vegetable, also registered a volume decrease of 6%, standing at 511,654 tons while the value grew by 6%, totaling 477 million euros.

As for fruits, sales in the first seven months of the year amounted to 4.8 million tons, 14% more, but the growth in value was much lower, 1%, standing at 4,920 million euros, due to the decrease in the value of the most exported fruits in this period such as citrus, or watermelon, which, although with positive behaviors, the volume growth was 13%, standing at 708,771 tons, while the value was 1% , totaling 354 million euros.

In stone fruit, peach exports stand out, which stood at 209,339 tons (+ 5%) and a value of 222 million euros (-2%) and those of nectarine amounted to 240,111 tons (+ 21%) and 249 million euros (-1%).

As for the export of red fruits, strawberry exports stood at 285,689 tons (+ 8%) and 577 million euros (+ 3%), also highlighting the raspberry with 52,501 tons (+ 38%) and 319 million euros (+ 11%) and blueberries, with 64,736 tons (+ 23%) and 321 million euros (+ 8%), according to data from the Customs and Excise Department, processed by FEPEX.