The value of Almeria's vegetable exports grew by 11.7% last year, reaching 1,665.5 million Euro, despite a 2.2% reduction in production volumes, down to 1.67 million tonnes.
With this, the province consolidated its leadership as a vegetable trader with overseas markets, with 41.8% of the value of the country's exports, followed by Murcia, with 23.8%, according to a delegation of Andalusia's regional government.
Regarding fruit, the province exported 317,347 tonnes last year, mainly melons and watermelons, which is 18.2% more than in 2011, with a 2.65% increase in value, reaching 161.1 million.
According to this data from Datacomex's latest report, Almeria consolidated as Andalusia's second largest fruit exporter, behind Huelva, and fifth at national level, with a 5.3% quota. 82% of Almeria's exports correspond to the agrifood sector and 76.2% to fresh fruit and vegetables.
In fact, nine out of the ten best-selling products from Almeria overseas are fresh fruit and vegetables.
Tomatoes, which brought 485 million Euro in revenue, were the most exported of Almeria's products with 20.2% of the province's external balance.
They were followed by peppers, with 426.6 million Euro and a 17.8% share; cucumbers, with 282.6 million and 11.8% of the province's total, and courgettes, with 193.7 million and an 8.1% share.
Almeria's largest fresh produce foreign customer was, once again, Germany, which purchased 29.7% of all exports, valued at 495 million.
This quota is higher than the ones registered in 2011 (28.8%), 2010 (26.3%) and 2009 (27.3%), which according to the regional delegate for Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment, José Manuel Ortiz, confirms that this "demanding market" has not only forgotten the "E.coli" crisis from May 2011, but has also increased "its trust in the quality and safety of Almeria's fruit and vegetables."
Other large customers for Almeria's vegetables are France, with 14.6% of all exports in 2012, the Netherlands, with 13.6% and the United Kingdom, with 12.1%.
Source: EFE