Between January and September 2018, the Spanish import of fresh fruits and vegetables has increased by 7% in terms of both volume and value compared to the same period of 2017, totaling 2.4 million tons and 2,028 million Euro.
The import of vegetables in the first three quarters of 2018 has stood at 1.05 million tons; 6% more than in the same period of the previous year. The value of these shipments has amounted to 539 million Euro (-7%). The decline in the value has been due to the fact that potato imports have grown by 10% in terms of volume, totaling 609,981 tons, while the value has fallen by 29%, down to 126.2 million Euro. Meanwhile, fruit imports reached 1.3 million tons (+7%) worth 1,489 million Euro (+13%).
According to FEPEX, there is a wide range of imported fruits and vegetables, which reflects the diversification of purchases. When it comes to vegetables, other important products besides potatoes are tomatoes, with 105,962 tons and 84.2 million Euro; green beans, with 91,352 tons (+9%) worth 116.6 million Euro (+9%); onions, with 69,050 tons (+83%) and 23.6 million Euro (+54%) and peppers, with 44,238 tons (+23%) worth 45.6 million Euro (-10%).
As for fruits, the most imported are bananas, with 266,526 tons (+20%) and 140 million Euro (+19%), and other important products are kiwifruit, with 131,264 tons (-18.5%) and 149.6 million Euro (-5%): pineapples, with 125,711 tons (+7%) worth 85.6 million Euro (-4%); apples, with 113,473 tons (-21%) and 112 million Euro (-3%) and avocados, with 102,837 tons (+36.6%) worth 188.6 million Euro (+11%). Other noteworthy products below the one hundred thousand tons are watermelons, with 92,268 tons (+20.5%); melons, with 53,955 tons (+8%); mangoes and guava, with 43,027 tons (+33%) and table grapes, with 43,855 tons (+15%).
During the period at hand, April and May were the months with the greatest imports, with 325,827 tons in May and 320,084 tons in April. August was the one with the lowest imports, with 223,647 tons, according to data from the General Directorate of Customs.