Spanish fruit and vegetable exports to non-EU countries has increased by 31% in value between January and November 2014, reaching 369.6 million Euro, compared to the same period of the previous year, according to the Spanish Federation of Producers and Exporters of Fruits and Vegetables (FEPEX).
Fepex has described the behaviour of foreign sales as "irregular", as unlike the "strong" increase in exports to non-EU countries, a 1% drop has been recorded in the value of horticultural goods shipped within the European Union (EU), as well as a 12% decrease in sales to non-EU European countries.
According to the Department of Customs and Special Taxes of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the total value of Spain's fresh fruit and vegetable exports from January to November 2014 stood at 9,307 million Euro, 1% less than in the same period of 2013.
91% of the total value of sales within this period (8,484 million Euro) was obtained from sales within the EU market. In terms of volume, Spanish exports to EU countries up to November increased by 1% to 9.7 million tonnes.
Exports to non-EU European countries represented 5% of the total and dropped by 12% in value, standing at 453.1 million Euro, due to the lower sales of the main target countries in this area: Russia, Norway and Switzerland.
In terms of volume, exports to these countries dropped by 9%, to a total of 448,551 tonnes.
Spanish exports to non-EU countries outside Europe increased by the aforementioned 31%, reaching 369.6 million Euro, although the percentage of exports to these countries remains small, with 4% of the total.
In terms of volume, exports to non-EU countries totalled 439,392 tonnes (+46%) and major destinations include Brazil, Algeria, Canada and United Arab Emirates.
Source: Fepex