Spanish fruit and vegetable exports in January and February 2015 grew by 3% in volume compared to the same months of 2014, reaching a total of 2.4 million tonnes, and by 5% in value, standing at 2,255 million Euro, according to data supplied by the General Customs Directorate of the Spanish Tax Agency and processed by FEPEX.
The growth in January and February 2015 corresponded mostly to fruit, with exports increasing by 9.7% in both volume and value, reaching 1.2 million tonnes and 1,046 million Euro, respectively. The good performance of fruit exports is attributable primarily to oranges, whose overseas sales grew by 21.31% in volume and 18.88% in value, to a total of 289 million Euro. Mandarins were the second most important product, falling by 1.25%, followed by red fruits (strawberry, raspberry and blueberry), which totalled 145 million Euro, an increase of 40%, as a result of a very favourable start of the campaign compared to 2014.
Vegetable exports registered a 3% decline in volume, down to a total of 1.2 million tonnes, and a 1% increase in value, reaching 1,209 million Euro.
It is worth noting how the two most exported vegetables, tomatoes and lettuce, have registered drops in both volume and value. Tomato exports have been 10% lower, reaching 269,544 tonnes, with a 5% drop in value, with 276.5 million Euro. Lettuce shipments stood at 186,073 tonnes (-5%) worth 162 million Euro (-3%).
For FEPEX, it is worrying that a significant number of crops with strategic importance from both a social and economic perspective have shown a negative performance.