Last year, more fruits and vegetables from third countries were imported into the EU. The numbers confirm a trend that Spanish vegetable producers and exporters are looking to without much enthusiasm.
As Spanish Association for Vegetable Producers and Exporters Fepex reports, the imports of fresh vegetables from non-EU countries increased in volume (+ 7%) in 2018, but decreased by -3% in value. Tomatoes, followed by potatoes, peppers and onions, were the most common vegetables in the EU.
Fruit imports from non-EU countries increased in volume by +7% and +5% respectively. The most imported fruits were bananas of more than 5.9 million tons and pineapples and oranges of more than 1 million tons each.
Trend confirmed
Last year's figures confirm a trend: over the last five years, EU imports of non-EU fruit and vegetables have been steadily rising while exports to third countries have fallen.
Fepex suspects that the development of foreign trade in fruit and vegetables with third countries is a consequence of the asymmetrical globalization of the community market, while the large markets of third countries are virtually closed by protectionist measures.
Source: lid.ch