In the first semester of 2020, the value of the Region of Andalusia's agro-food exports reached 6,536 million Euro, which is the highest figure since official data exist (1995). This is to thank to an interannual growth of 1.1%.
According to data from Extenda-Andalusian Agency for Foreign Promotion, with this record, the region establishes itself as the leader in the export of Spanish food and beverages, accounting for practically one in every four Euro (24.3%) of all domestic sales (26,929 million) between January and June, more than four points ahead of Catalonia (20.1%) and more than ten points ahead of the Region of Valencia (13.5%).
Vegetables, the most successful
In the first half of 2020, vegetables continued to lead the sales of the Andalusian agro-food sector, with 2,012 million; 31% of the total and an increase of 8.2% compared to the first six months of the previous year.
Fruits ranked second, with 1,855 million, 28.4% of the total and an increase of 3.9%. In fourth place, behind olive oil, are canned fruit and vegetables, with 381 million, 5.8% and a 5.5% drop.
The provinces in which fruits and vegetables have the largest share of the agricultural production, such as Almería, Málaga and Granada, are the ones that recorded the most growth in this period.
Growth in Asia, Africa and Oceania
Europe is the main destination for the Andalusian agro-food sector, with exports on the rise in the first half of the year. However, the most significant growth has been recorded in Asia, Africa and Oceania.
The biggest growth has been recorded in China (+22.6%), but Andalusian exports are also gaining ground in Tunisia (currently the 18th largest market and the one with the fastest growing of the top 20), with 88% more sales and 49 million; Australia (17th largest destination), with a rise of 33%, to 52 million; and Morocco (20th), with a 49% growth, to 44 million.
Germany is still the largest market, with 1,292 million (19.8% of the total) and a growth of 10.4%. It is followed by France, with 864 (13.2%) and an increase of 5.2%; the United Kingdom, with 718 million (11%) and an increase of 9.4%; Italy, with 522 million (8%) and a 28.8% drop; and the Netherlands, with 493 million (7.5%) and a 0.4% drop.
In sixth place is Portugal, with 391 million (6%) and a 4.7% drop, followed by the United States, with 363 million (5.6%) and an increase of 1.6%; Poland, with 174 million (2.7%) and an increase of 1.2%; Belgium, with 151 million (2.3%) and a 1% drop, and China, in tenth place, with 142 million and a growth in sales of 22.6%.
For more information: www.extenda.es
