The value of Andalusian citrus fruit exports in the first four months of the year has almost reached 160 million Euro for the first time in history. Out of the ten most important regions in terms of exports, it was the only one that saw its sales increase in January-April 2019, with 158 million Euro. This represents an increase of 7.9% over the same period of 2018, according to data from Extenda-Andalusian Agency for Foreign Promotion.
With these figures, the value of the region's exports is the third highest in Spain, representing 11.6% of the nation's total, and is only surpassed by the Region of Valencia and Murcia, which have recorded 5.6% and 13.3% drops, respectively, in the same period.
Andalusia has a very healthy trade balance in this sector, registering a trade surplus of 157 million Euro and a coverage rate of 20.625%, which means that exports are 206 times greater than imports (whose value amounted to just 766,000 Euro).
These figures confirm the sector's good path in the last decade, in which exports have increased by 89%, totaling 288 million Euro in 2018. Thus, Andalusia has again recorded the fastest growth of the five biggest exporters in Spain.
Seville-Huelva-Córdoba axis
Three provinces account for three out of every four Euro sold by Andalusia (75%). The leader in terms of sales is Seville, with 67 million Euro in the first four months of 2019 (42% of the total), which registered a 17.7% increase in sales in this period. Next in the ranking are Huelva, with 32 million (20.4% of the total) and Córdoba, with 20.6 million (13.1% and an increase of 18%).
Malaga ranks fourth, with 19.8 million Euro (12.6% of the total and a 24.3% increase in sales), and is followed by Almeria, with 16.9 million (10.7%); Cádiz, with 1.3 million and 69% growth in this period; and Granada, with 390,000 Euro in sales.
By products, sweet Navel-type fresh oranges account for 45% of sales, with 72 million Euro and an increase of 12.1%. They are followed by fresh oranges (excluding sweet ones), with 18.9 million, 12% of sales and an increase of 16.2%; and fresh white sweet oranges, with 15.7 million, 10% and an increase of 11.2%.
In fourth place we find lemons, with 13.8 million Euro, 8.8% of the total and an increase of 1%; followed by fresh or dried citrus fruits (excluding oranges, mandarins, tangerines, satsumas and clementines), with 13.4 million, 8.5% and a 0.9% increase.
China, the fastest growing market
It is a very diversified sector, with the top ten destinations found in three continents (Europe, Asia and America). Germany is the most important importer of Andalusian citrus exports, with 42 million Euro; 26.4% of the total and up 15.5% in the first four months of the year. It is followed by France, with 33 million, 20.9% of the total and an increase of 7.2%; and the Netherlands, with 14.2 million, 9% and an increase of 2%.
China stands out in fourth place. Extenda organized a direct commercial mission to this country last March, and the market has recorded the biggest increase in sales in this period, with a rise of 53%, reaching 10.1 million Euro. In fifth place we find Canada, with 5.8 million (3.7%), which records a 3.1% growth; followed by Italy, with 5.8 million (3.7%); the United Kingdom, with 5.7 million (3.6%); Portugal, with 5 million (3.1% of the total); Poland, with 5 million, up by 37%; and Belgium, with 4.2 million (2.7%.
It is also a very consolidated sector abroad, as 167 of the 259 companies that exported in the first four months of the year are regular exporters, with a record of more than four consecutive years exporting. These firms account for 93% of sales.
Support to the sector
Extenda is organizing actions designed to promote the internationalization of the Andalusian citrus sector. Worthy of note is the aforementioned trade mission organized to China last March in partnership with Asociafruit, in which five Andalusian firms in the sector carried out more than fifty interviews with 54 Chinese import companies in the cities of Shanghai and Guangzhou.
This action took place in the framework of Extenda's plans to promote the entry of Andalusian fruit and vegetable firms in foreign markets. So far this year, a total of 67 fruit companies have participated in half a hundred such actions.
36% of the participating companies come from Seville, while 21% are from Huelva, 19.4% from Almería, 9% from Malaga, 7.5% from Cádiz, 4.5% from Granada, and 3% from Córdoba.
The companies have participated mainly in grouped fairs (27.2% of participations), direct missions (26.3%), seminars (15.8%), business opportunities (7.9%), technical training (6.1%), and language training (4.4%).
The markets that aroused most interest from fruit companies were Germany, Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, China, the United States, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
Schedule for 2019
Next September, Andalusian fruit companies will have the opportunity to participate in Asia Fruitlogistica, one of the sector's biggest events intended to enter the Asian market. They will also have the chance to participate in horticultural missions to the United Kingdom and Ireland and another to Italy.
In October, Extenda will organize two horticultural missions, one to Austria and another to France. It will also promote the participation in another of the sector's great events: Fruit Attraction, as well as Nordic Organic in November.
More information: www.extenda.es