The export of Spanish fruits and vegetables will grow 5% in 2019
The Spanish export of fruits and vegetables in 2019 will be located at 13.5 million tons, with a growth of between 8% and 10% compared to the previous year and at 13.4 billion euros, 5% more, according to estimates made by FEPEX, based on official data until October and a forecast for the months of November and December.
According to FEPEX estimates for 2019, vegetable exports will reach 5.5 million tons, with an estimated increase of 3.9% over 2018 for a value that will exceed 5,500 million euros, 7% more. In vegetables there is a positive evolution in volume of the generality of the products, highlighting, however, the decline in the export of tomatoes attributable to the strong competition of Morocco and the lengthening of the campaigns of other Community producing countries, mainly the Netherlands , with high tech greenhouses. In fruits, an export of 8 million tons is expected, 12% more than in 2018 and a value exceeding 7,700 million euros, 3% more. For FEPEX, the estimated 2019 data reflects a positive overall evolution, but masks disparate situations by subsectors and farm characteristics.
According to statistics until October 2019, of the General Directorate of Customs, sales of vegetables have totaled 4.4 million tons, 5% more than in the same months of the previous year and the value has grown by 10 %, with 4,485 million euros. Pepper, with 622,922 tons and 8.5% more; Cucumber, with 489,666 tons and 9% more and cabbages, with 388,520 tons and 20%, more have been the vegetables that have grown the most in volume. In fruits, exports to October grew by 12.5% in volume, totaling 6.3 million tons and 2% in value, standing at 6,372 million euros. The largest volumes correspond to citrus fruits, followed by stone fruit (peach, nectarine, plum, apricot and cherry) with 1 million tons and an increase of 9% and watermelon with 904,896 tons (+ 5.5%). Red fruits also stand out, with strawberry at the head and 290,605 tons (+ 5%).
Looking ahead to 2020, FEPEX considers that one of the main challenges of the sector will be the exit of the United Kingdom from the EU, the third destination of Spanish exports and the future trade agreement to be negotiated between the European Commission and the British Government, as well as access to the market of non-EU countries, which, as in the case of the United States or China, apply extremely protectionist policies, which strongly limit exports. The sector also faces the challenge of improving competitiveness in 2020, creating synergies with the fulfillment of the environmental and climate action objectives of the Community Agricultural Policy, much more environmentally ambitious than that applied by third countries, which access A globalized community market. Therefore, FEPEX will present to the new Government a plan of measures to overcome the challenges that threaten the economic and social sustainability of a large group of crops.
