The Spanish export of fresh fruits and vegetables has recorded a positive development in the first quarter of the year, compared to the same period of 2016, with an 11% increase in shipments to the EU, totalling 3,848 million Euro; a 14% growth in non-European third countries, totalling € 133 million, and a 5% increase in the shipments to non-EU European countries, amounting to € 114.6 million, according to data from the Department of Customs and Special Taxes of the Spanish Tax Agency, processed By FEPEX.
The EU accounts for 94% of the total exported by Spain in the first quarter of the year, which amounted to 4,095 million Euro, growing in the main markets: Germany, France and the United Kingdom. Exports to Germany grew by 13%, totalling 1,087 million Euro; those to France increased by 4%, amounting to 641.6 million Euro, and those to the United Kingdom grew by 3%, totalling 572 million Euro.
Outside the EU, Spanish exports to European countries accounted for 2.8% of the total and recorded a 5% increase, totalling 114.6 million Euro, mostly due to the growth in Switzerland, which received fresh fruits and vegetables worth 76.5 million Euro; up 13%. Shipments to Andorra increased by 17% and totalled 4.4 million Euro; those to Belarus grew by 22% and reached 3 million Euro, while those to Norway, the second most important destination of this group of countries, fell by 13% and stood at 24.6 million Euro.
When it comes to non-European third countries, the Spanish export amounted to 133 million Euro; up 14%, and represented 3.2% of the total. Worth noting was the growth of the United States, with 14.5 million Euro (+60%), China, with 14 million Euro (+104%) and Saudi Arabia, with 10.5 million Euro (+44%). On the other side of the scale, shipments to Brazil fell by 4% and were worth 10.7 million Euro, and those to Canada recorded a 21% drop and stood at 14.9 million Euro.
For FEPEX, the positive development of exports to third countries is remarkable; however, the consolidation of new markets remains a long and expensive process and no significant volumes or revenues have been achieved.
Source: fepex.es