The Spanish fruit sector is closer than ever to seeing the signing of the protocols that will allow the export to China and other potential Asian markets.
"We have set our sights on the Asian market, although we must also take into consideration what products can and which cannot be shipped to these markets, given the long transit times, which are a major handicap. We can export apples and pears by sea mostly without problems, but stonefruit is more perishable," points out Josep Presseguer, president of Fruits de Ponent, Europe's largest stonefruit producer and marketer.
In the words of the entrepreneur: "If we are able to open up this market and find freight operators able to deliver the fruit in a relatively short time frame, it could be a market with great potential for us, and not only China, but also Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, etc."
So far, according to Presseguer, air freight is the only viable option to ship high quality stonefruit, which is what these demanding markets require.
"Combining the know-how of the stonefruit sector and the improvement of transit times, we would have no rival in terms of quality. Meanwhile, there is still much work to do to open a real trade route, as the signing of the protocols does not mean we'll be exporting right away. Russia took ten years to open and just one afternoon to close."
Moreover, Presseguer points to the Middle East as a market to consider, "with countries that are halfway between Europe and Asia, such as the newly opened market of Iran, and which not only have a high population density, but also already enjoy our fruit. The opportunities in these markets are great."
Piel de Sapo melons are also increasingly present in Asia
At this time, there is a significant increase in the number of Piel de Sapo melon containers shipped to Asia, although this was also the case a while ago and the recession was responsible for reducing it.
Now, with the falling value of the Euro, there is a resurgence of companies exporting to markets like Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, where Piel de Sapo melons are gaining ground, yielding interesting profit margins.
Nevertheless, melons face the same logistical problems, as well as an aggressive manipulation in arrival at the destination ports. Such is the example of Singapore, where after a 22 day shipment the containers are opened and remain open, subject to high temperatures and a humidity of 95% that can destroy all kinds of fruit. The sector should also take steps forward in the development of new varieties that can withstand these conditions.