With 2,578,214 tons of fruit and vegetables exported during 2019, the Spanish Region of Murcia stayed at the same great level as the previous year. In fact, Murcia's fruit and vegetable exports increased by 2.9% compared to 2018. Those shipments were worth 2,564 million Euro; a figure 2.4 % higher than in the previous year.
Nationwide, Spanish fruit and vegetable exports amounted to 13.5 million tons (7.7% more than in 2018) worth 13,542 million Euro (5.5% more).
Main destinations
Germany is the leading destination for Murcia's fruit and vegetable exports, accounting for 25% of all fresh vegetables exported. During 2019, 662,856 tons worth 647 million Euro were shipped to the German market.
The United Kingdom, which ranks second (with 21% of the total), recorded an 8.3% drop in the value of the exports in 2019. It received 493,276 tons, for which it paid 532 million Euro.
France remains in third place, with 419,389 tons worth 421 million Euro; 16% of Murcia's exports. These three destinations accounted for 62% of the Region's fresh vegetable sales abroad during 2019.
Horticultural exports
When it comes to exported vegetables, the volume stood at 1,278,806 tons, while in value grew by 8.7%, to 1,331 million Euro. 23.1% of the vegetables exported nationally come from the Region of Murcia.
Lettuce remains the most remarkable of Murcia's fruit and vegetable export products. In 2019, a total of 509,761 tons were shipped, which is 8.1% less than in the previous year. Despite this, the Region continues to account for 68% of the value of all lettuce exported by Spain, with 475 million Euro received last year.
In 2019, Murcia shipped 330,924 tons (-2.5%) worth 363 million Euro. The Region remains Spain's largest supplier of broccoli, cauliflower and other cabbages, with 71.4% of the country's total shipments.
Pepper has snatched the third place in the ranking of Murcia's horticultural exports in 2019. The exported volume increased by a very significant 33.9% (107,805 tons), while the value stood at 142 million Euro; 41.7% more than in 2018. Murcian peppers account for 10.3% of Spain's total exports.
Murcian tomato exports have fallen by 9.8% during 2019, reaching 88,743 tons. In terms of value, they have dropped by 10%, with 75.4 million Euro. Murcia's tomato exports account for 11.5% of the country's total.
Fruits and citrus
In 2019, the Region increased its fresh fruit exports by 7%, reaching 1,299,416 tons worth 1,331 million Euro (+8.7%).
The volume of lemons shipped last year increased by 22.7%, with 434,438 tons that reached a value of 417.9 million Euro, which represents an increase of 6.2% compared to 2018.
Table grapes were the second most important fruit in terms of value for the Region of Murcia, with exports worth 211 million Euro (10.2% less than in the previous year) and 104,468 tons shipped (10.1% less). 67% of all Spanish table grape exports came from the Region of Murcia.
Regarding the volume of melons exported in 2019 (252,298 tons), it increased by 13.8% compared to 2018, while the value of those shipments grew by 3.9% and reached 179 million Euro. The Region of Murcia accounted for 56.6% of the country's total melon exports including all varieties: Piel de Sapo, Yellow, Cantaloupe, Galia and others.
Watermelon shipments, which amounted to 179,319 tons, grew by 1.9% last year, while their value reached 77 million Euro, 3.1% more.
For more information: www.proexport.es