In 2016, Morocco increased its sales of aubergines to the European Union (EU) by 587.9 percent compared to the previous year, while Spain reduced them by -1.3 percent, although the difference between the volumes of both countries remains considerable.
These are the conclusions of the report based on data from the Euroestacom statistical service (Icex-Eurostat), with code 070930 of the Tariff Integrated of the European Communities (TARIC).
The Moroccan export of aubergines went from 55,400 kilos in 2015 to 381,100 kilos in 2016. Meanwhile, the Spanish one dropped from 121.73 million kilos in 2015 to 120.15 million kilos in 2016.
Despite this data, Spain remains, by far, the largest supplier of aubergines to the EU, supplying more than half of the aubergines imported by the Member States, namely 53.22 percent.
The total amount of aubergines bought by the European Union in 2016 reached 225.76 million kilos; an all-time record figure, 1.85 percent higher than in the previous year, although spending has been reduced, as purchases were made at a lower average price, falling from 241.72 million Euro in 2015 to the 240.64 million Euro paid by EU countries in 2016. The average price has gone from 1.091 Euro per kilo in 2015 to 1.066 Euro per kilo in 2016.
Suppliers
Despite the decline in exports, Spain remains, by far, the largest supplier of aubergines to the EU, providing Member States with 53.22 percent of the aubergines they bought in 2016. The volume of aubergines bought by EU member countries from Spain last year was 120.15 million kilos, for which they paid 119.53 million Euro, with an average price of 0.995 Euro per kilo.
The second largest supplier (a considerable distance behind Spain) was the Netherlands, which sold the EU 54.61 million kilos of aubergines worth 65.18 million Euro, with an average price much higher than the Spanish, of 1.194 Euro per kilo.
Germany ranks third in the supply of aubergines to the EU partners, with a volume sold in 2016 totalling 11.46 million kilos, for which it received 13.71 million Euro and an average price of 1.196 Euro per kilo.
The fourth largest supplier in order of importance was Belgium, which in 2016 sold 6.98 million kilos to the EU for 9.14 million Euro, with an average price of 1.309 Euro per kilo, which makes Belgium the country selling the most expensive aubergines among the five largest suppliers.
The fifth largest supplier of aubergines to the EU in 2016 was Turkey, with 6.48 million kilos worth 5.87 million Euro and an average price of 0.905 Euro per kilo. Last year, Turkey increased its sales of aubergines to the EU by 39.65 percent.
Source: hortoinfo.es