94.2% of Spanish fresh fruit and vegetable exports up until July 2017 went to the EU market; that is, 7.3 million tonnes. Another 170,144 tonnes, 2.3% of the total, went to European countries outside the EU, and 275,842 tonnes, 3.5%, went to non-European third countries, according to data from the Department of Customs and Special Taxes of the Spanish Tax Agency, processed by FEPEX. This indicates that the geographical distribution of those shipments has remained stable.
Sales to the EU up to July increased by 2% compared to the same months of 2016, with growth recorded in Germany and Italy; 3% in the case of Germany, having reached 2 million tonnes, and 28% in the case of Italy, with 506,472 tonnes. Meanwhile, slight drops were recorded in France, with 1% less and 1.4 million tonnes; the United Kingdom, 1% less and 866,769 tonnes, and the Netherlands with 619,325 tonnes (-4%). The value of Spanish exports to the EU amounted to 7,714 million Euro (+5%), representing 93.52% of the total; the same percentage as in the same period of 2016.
Spanish exports to non-EU European countries fell by 3%, totalling 170,344 tonnes worth € 231 million (+3%). The main destinations are Switzerland, with 101,000 tonnes (-1%) and Norway, with 40,000 tonnes (-11%).
Sales outside Europe in the first seven months of the year grew by 11%, totalling 275,842 tonnes worth 303.4 million Euro (+6%). The main destinations within this group are Morocco, with 47,769 tonnes (+7%), Brazil, with 43,426 tonnes, the same amount as in the previous period, the United Arab Emirates, with 33,397 tonnes (+4%), Saudi Arabia, with 30,291 tonnes (+46%), Chile, with 24,668 tonnes (+64%) and China, with 18,121 tonnes (+52%).
For FEPEX, the development of sales to third countries, with a share of 6.48%, the same as in 2016, shows the need to strengthen the policies for diversification and the opening of new markets.
In the period at hand, Spanish fruit and vegetable imports were worth 1,531 million Euro; a 10% growth. 547 million Euro corresponded to purchases from the EU (+8%) and 984 million Euro to those from third countries (+12%), which account for 63.81% of imports.
Source: fepex.es