Improves the export of Spanish fruits and vegetables

The Spanish export of fresh fruits and vegetables in the first quarter of 2019 has improved by 8% in volume and 5% in value, totaling 3.8 million tons and 4.040 billion euros, according to data from the first quarter of 2019 in comparison with the same period of the previous year, of the Department of Customs and Special Taxes, made public this Tuesday.

Between January and March of this year vegetables have registered a remarkable growth, both in volume, with 5% more in relation to the same period of 2018, and in value, with 12% more, amounting to 2 million tons and 2,194 million euros. The highest volumes corresponded to tomato, pepper and lettuce, with sales exceeding 300,000 tonnes and a value of 397 million euros in the case of tomatoes (+ 2%), 467 million in the case of pepper (+ 16%) and 300 million euros in lettuce (+ 18%). They are followed by cucumber, with 268,245 tonnes (+ 14%) and 241 million euros (+ 4%) and cabbages with 218,613 tonnes (+ 19%) and 227 million euros (+ 27%).

Fruits have experienced an export volume growth of 10% and 1.8 million tons and a drop in value of 2% and 1,846 million euros, largely due to citrus, to which correspond the largest volumes exported in this period. At a great distance is strawberry, with 126.3 76 tons (+ 26%) and 303 million euros (+ 14%).

By autonomous communities, Andalusia is the main exporter with 1.4 million tons, 12% more than in the first quarter of 2018, with a value of 1,919 million euros (+ 13%), followed by Comunidad Valenciana with 1, 2 million tons (+ 11%) and 1,069 million euros (-4%) and Murcia with 692,789 tons (-1%) and 677 million euros (+ 5%).

In relation to the countries, the EU was the destination of 93% of Spanish exports, with 3.5 million tons, and a growth of 7% year-on-year, and 3,753 million euros (+ 5%). Outside the EU, a total of 263,462 tonnes and 287 million euros went to European non-EU countries, with Switzerland and Norway being the first destinations and a total of 160,225 tonnes and 155 million euros for all extra-European countries .

The import in the analyzed period grew 9% in volume and 15% in value, totaling 895,144 tons and 804 million euros, being the potato the most purchased product, with 314,748 tons (+ 7%) and 113 million euros ( + 107%), according to the data of the Department of Customs and Special Taxes of the Tax Agency.

For FEPEX, the statistics of foreign trade reflect a recovery of the set of exports of fresh fruits and vegetables, in volume and value, although negative results persist for very significant products of the Spanish sector. They also reflect the strength of imports in the internal market with increasingly high growth rates.