Grew by 5.3% the value of fruit and vegetable exports in the first half of the year
The value of exports of fresh fruit and vegetables increased by 5.3% during the first half of 2016, a total of 7,101 million euros, despite the setback experienced in volume during the same period. Specifically, less than 3.21% (6,747,605 tons).
In the first half of this year it has also strongly increased imports, totaling 1,220 million euros, an increase of 28.57% to 1,534,586 tons, 20.42% more, according to the Department of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Economy processed by the Spanish Federation of Producers and Exporters of Fruits and Vegetables (FEPEX).
The decline in the volume exported in the first half of 2016 was due to the decline observed in fruit exports, totaling 3.558.245tn (-8.98%). In value terms, exports of fruits totaled 4,010 million euros (+ 5.91%). Among fruits include the setback in stone fruit. Nectarine falling export volume and value with 118,000 tons (-27%) and € 163 million (-21%), apricot with 52,545 tons (-7%) and € 77 million (-8%), peach with 122,000 ton (-1.7%) and € 151 million (-0.9%) and plum with 14,260 tons (-32.24%) and 19 million € (-24%). On the positive side, it highlights the strong growth of red fruits. Export strawberry amounts to 564 million € (+ 11.93%), the cranberry to 243 million € (+ 33%), raspberry 219 million € (+ 37%), blackberry 12 million € (+ 16%) and gooseberry 10 € million (103%). It also grows strongly export of watermelon with 364.000tn (+ 38%) and € 193 million (+ 35%) and melon with 176.000tn (+ 11.1%) and € 142 million (+ 18%).
The export of vegetables increased by 4.16% in volume, totaling € 3,090 million (+ 4.69%). The tomato is still the first product in volume exported 602,000 tons (-3.3%) and € 581 million (-5%), which also reported strong growth in imports, with 46,000 tons (+ 70%) and 38 million € ( + 64%), being the first import Andalusia autonomous community and Morocco’s main supplier, followed by the Netherlands. In this product the strong import growth takes place in a period that was characterized by an oversupply situation and minimum prices in the main producing area. The average price per kg of tomatoes imported in the first half amounted to 0.83 € / kg, according to Customs.
Export of vegetables is followed in importance by export value, pepper with 393.000tn (+ 2%) and € 566 million (+ 11%) and lettuce with 464,000 tons (-0.1%) and € 429 million (+4.8 %).
Fruit and vegetable export has been determined by the weather, with adverse effects on certain crops, and strong intra-EU and third country competition in some products, mainly the Netherlands and Morocco,
Therefore, FEPEX has proposed to MAGRAMA conducting a competitive analysis and a proposal of measures to improve operations.
Source: FEPEX
