The recent decision by the United States Administration to close its doors to Spanish pepper imports has generated concern among growers, especially in Almeria, where most of the production destined for the American market is concentrated. However, this closure is not expected to be a devastating blow to the sector, given that the percentage of peppers exported to the US has been historically low.
According to a Hortoinfo report based on Estacom data (ICEX-Tax Agency), pepper exports to the US have represented a tiny fraction of Spain's total exports. Spain sent its biggest volume of peppers to the US in 2002 and that volume, 4,738,527 kilos, did not even amount to 1% of the country's total pepper exports. In 2022, exports to the US stood at 980,857 kilos, i.e. 0.12% of the total exported.
The first sales of peppers to the United States were not made through shipments to US territory, but rather through sales to the Pentagon to supply the US bases in Germany and the ships of the US 6th Fleet when it sailed in the Mediterranean. The first direct shipments began shortly after, expanding to Canada and consolidating through the Sproma brand, which included 17 Spanish companies.
Despite the ups and downs and rigorous US controls, pepper exports have never accounted for a significant share of the total.
Source: hortoinfo.es