According to the latest Analysis of Almeria's horticultural campaign, prepared by the Cajamar Foundation, Almeria increased its export volume between September 2013 and June 2014 by 8.2% surpassing for the first time, the 2,000 million kilos sold abroad. To achieve this figure, it was necessary to increase exports of each and every one of the vegetables grown in the Andalusian province but, without a doubt, pepper exports increased the most.
According to the report, sales of Almeria's pepper abroad increased by 22.9% in volume, thanks largely to the increase in shipments to Germany, the province's main customer. During the last campaign, Almeria exported 24.2% more pepper to Germany and 14.6% more pepper to the Netherlands. In total, Almeria sold $441,781 tons of pepper (22.9% from a year earlier) abroad for which it billed nearly $512 million Euro, only 9.8% more than in the previous year.
Cucumber sales abroad during the 2013/2014 campaign increased by 12% in volume, up to 377,015 tons; however, revenues fell slightly by 2.8% to $292 million Euro, approximately. As with the pepper, the increase in exports was possible thanks to the increase in shipments to the more traditional markets, such as Germany, UK, Holland and France.
Markets
The European market remains the main destination for Almeria's exports. According to the Cajamar's report, "97% of Almeria's exports is bound to the EU-28"; however, the text continues, "its the member countries of the EU-15 which received the highest volume of exports with 87.8%." Thus, the four major destinations for Almeria's vegetables (Germany, UK, Netherlands and France) increased their purchases to the province, except France, which had a decrease of 2.1%. According to the report, "this decline has been caused by a lower purchase of tomato, zucchini and watermelon", products that, in all probability, France has acquired from any of Almeria's competitors, such as Morocco, especially in the case of tomatoes.
In any case, despite the decline in the French market, the province increased sales to Germany once again, as it has done since the 2008/2009 season. Germany increased its purchases from the province by 10.9%, to 670,901 tons. Meanwhile, the Netherlands increased purchases by 28.5%, and the UK increased its demand for Almeria's products by 3.8%.
In the last campaign, Almeria increased its market share in its more traditional destinations and in other countries, such as Austria, +52.3%, or Greece. Exports to Austria amounted to 33,460 tons, the highest since the 2005/2006 campaign; a breakthrough in that market. Exports to the Greek market are much more modest, as they only amounted to 449 tonnes; however, "they represent a recovery of this market for local operators, as shipments to the Hellenic country had fallen in recent seasons, largely conditioned by the economic situation in this country."
Last season, Almeria also gained market share in the enlarged EU, as sales to these markets grew by 16.6%. In this case, Poland and the Czech Republic continue to be the main destinations, although there was a notable increase in sales to Latvia and Lithuania, more than 134% and 74%, respectively.
Source: Valencia Fruits